Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2026
Murine Model of CD40-activation of B cells
Published on: March 5, 2010
CD44 is dispensable for B lymphopoiesis
Harald Bradl1, Wolfgang Schuh, Hans-Martin Jäck
1Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Nikolaus Fiebiger Center, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstrasse 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Insights
The cell surface glycoprotein CD44 is not essential for B cell development or activation. CD44-deficient mice show normal B lymphocyte maturation, reconstitution, and immune cell responses, indicating CD44 dispensability.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The cell surface glycoprotein CD44 plays roles in lymphocyte functions like differentiation, adhesion, homing, activation, and apoptosis.
- The specific role of CD44 in B cell maturation has not been clearly defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the necessity of CD44 in the development, reconstitution, and activation of B lymphocytes.
- To clarify the function of CD44 in the B cell lineage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of B lymphocyte generation and activation in CD44-deficient mice.
- Assessment of B cell progenitor maturation and reconstitution post-irradiation.
- Evaluation of splenic B cell subset frequencies and activation responses to various stimuli (LPS, anti-IgM/IL-4, anti-CD40/IL-4).
Main Results:
- B cell progenitor maturation and reconstitution in bone marrow were unaffected in CD44-deficient mice.
- Frequencies of splenic B cell subsets were similar between wild-type and CD44-deficient mice.
- CD44-deficient B lymphocytes exhibited normal activation patterns upon stimulation with LPS, anti-IgM/IL-4, or anti-CD40/IL-4.
Conclusions:
- CD44 is dispensable for the development of B lymphocytes.
- CD44 is not required for the reconstitution of B cell progenitors after irradiation.
- B lymphocyte activation is independent of CD44 expression.
Abstract:
Several studies have implicated a role for the cell surface glycoprotein CD44 in lymphocyte differentiation, adhesion to the matrix, homing, activation and apoptosis. However, the requirement of CD44 in B cell maturation remains elusive. To address this point, we analyzed the generation and activation of B lymphocytes in CD44-deficient mice. Unexpectedly, both maturation and autoreconstitution of early bone marrow B cell progenitors after sublethal irradiation as well as frequencies of splenic B cell subsets are indistinguishable in wild-type and CD44-deficient mice. Furthermore, splenic CD44-deficient B lymphocytes show a normal activation pattern after stimulation with LPS, anti-IgM/IL-4 or anti-CD40/IL-4. These results show for the first time that CD44 is clearly dispensable for development, reconstitution and activation of B lymphocytes.
