The cellular origins of memory B cells

Recent evidence indicates that memory B cells may originate from a precursor cell subset that is distinct from AFC precursors. Most convincing is the finding that fractionation of naive peripheral B-cell populations on the basis of surface heat stable antigen (HSA) expression yields two populations; one greatly enriched for progenitors of memory B cells (HSAlo), and the other enriched for AFC precursors (HSAint-hi). Antigenic stimulation of HSAlo B cells in vitro leads to the generation of memory B-cell clones in the absence of any detectable antibody formation whereas stimulation of HSAint-hi cells yield AFC responses but not memory B cells. Furthermore, the progeny of HSAlo cells are unique in their ability to accumulate somatic mutations and originate germinal centers (GC). The pre-existence of two distinct precursor cell populations may help resolve the disparate biological characteristics of AFC precursors which appear to be terminally differentiated versus memory progenitors which retain stem cell characteristics in their capacity to self renew, undergo multiple divisions, and generate progeny that express enzymes characteristic of stem cells or pro-pre B cells and acquire tolerance susceptibility.