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Published on: September 17, 2019
FDC-B1: a new monoclonal antibody directed against bovine follicular dendritic cells
F Mélot1, V Defaweux, O Jolois
1Institute of Human Histology, University of Liège, Rue de Pitteurs, 20, B-4020 Liège, Belgium.
Insights
A new monoclonal antibody, FDC-B1, aids in identifying follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), crucial accessory cells involved in immune responses and prion disease pathogenesis. This antibody targets a specific 28 kDa antigen on FDCs in ruminant lymphoid organs.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Veterinary Pathology
Background:
- Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are accessory cells in lymphoid follicles, vital for humoral immunity.
- FDCs play a significant role in prion diseases, serving as sites for prion protein expression and agent accumulation.
- Accurate identification of FDCs is crucial for analyzing their distribution in both normal and pathological lymphoid tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the production and characterization of a novel mouse monoclonal antibody, FDC-B1.
- To identify a specific antigen recognized by FDC-B1 on follicular dendritic cells.
- To evaluate the utility of FDC-B1 for identifying FDCs in ruminant lymphoid organs.
Main Methods:
- Production of a mouse monoclonal antibody (FDC-B1) against bovine follicular dendritic cells.
- Characterization of the antigen recognized by FDC-B1, including its molecular weight and expression pattern.
- Testing the antibody's specificity for FDCs in ruminant lymphoid tissues.
Main Results:
- The FDC-B1 antibody was successfully produced and characterized.
- The antigen detected by FDC-B1 is exclusively expressed on the surface of FDCs in ruminant lymphoid organs.
- The target antigen has an approximate molecular weight of 28 kDa.
Conclusions:
- The FDC-B1 monoclonal antibody is a specific and useful tool for identifying follicular dendritic cells in ruminant lymphoid tissues.
- This antibody facilitates the study of FDC distribution and their role in various conditions, including prion diseases.
- The identified 28 kDa antigen provides a novel marker for FDC research.
Abstract:
Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are a unique population of accessory cells located in the light zone of the germinal centres of lymphoid follicles. Their involvement in the generation of humoral immune responses implies a potential role for these cells in many disorders. Indeed, in prion diseases, FDCs seem to be the major sites of extraneuronal cellular prion protein expression and the principal sites of the infectious agent accumulation in lymphoid organs. The identification of FDC is useful for the analysis of their distribution in reactive lymphoid tissue as well as in pathological conditions. The production and characterisation of a new mouse monoclonal antibody directed against bovine follicular dendritic cells (FDC-B1) is reported. The antigen detected by FDC-B1 is expressed exclusively on the surface of FDCs in ruminant lymphoid organs. The antigen has an approximate molecular weight of 28 kDa.
