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Commitment to the B lymphoid lineage occurs before DH-JH recombination
1Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, USA. DM.Allman@fccc.edu
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|February 17, 1999
Summary
B cell lineage commitment occurs early in development, before immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. Specific progenitor populations were identified, revealing that commitment precedes VHDHJH recombination, clarifying early B lymphopoiesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Hematopoiesis
Background:
- B lymphopoiesis, the process of B cell development, is not fully understood.
- Defining early B lineage progenitors and their multipotential descendants is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differentiation potential of three progenitor populations in adult mouse bone marrow.
- To determine the timing of B lymphoid lineage commitment during hematopoiesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of progenitor populations (Fr. A0, A1, A2) from adult mouse bone marrow.
- Single-cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect DHJH rearrangements.
- Assessment of precursor potential in recombination activating gene (Rag)-1(-/-) and JH-/- mice.
Main Results:
- Fraction A0 progenitors showed myeloid, erythroid, and lymphoid potential, including mixed myeloid/B lymphoid potential.
- Fractions A1 and A2, expressing B220 and germline IgH, were restricted to B lymphoid potential.
- No DHJH rearrangements were observed in any of the analyzed populations.
Conclusions:
- B lymphoid lineage commitment occurs independently of VHDHJH recombination.
- Commitment to the B cell lineage precedes immunoglobulin gene rearrangement.