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The Isolation, Differentiation, and Quantification of Human Antibody-secreting B Cells from Blood: ELISpot as a Functional Readout of Humoral Immunity
08:26

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High levels of CD44 expression distinguish virgin from antigen-primed B cells

R L Camp1, T A Kraus, M L Birkeland

  • 1Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|March 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Stimulating B cells via surface immunoglobulin (Ig) rapidly increases CD44 protein and mRNA levels. This upregulation is specific to Ig stimulation and may affect how antigen-primed B cells navigate the body.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • CD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion and migration.
  • B cell activation is a critical process in adaptive immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulation of CD44 expression in B cells.
  • To determine the effect of different stimuli on CD44 upregulation.
  • To explore the potential role of CD44 in antigen-primed B cell function.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro polyclonal stimulation of B cells using anti-Ig antibodies.
  • Analysis of CD44 protein and mRNA levels via flow cytometry and RT-PCR.
  • Cell sorting of antigen-specific B cells from immunized mice.

Main Results:

  • Surface immunoglobulin (Ig) stimulation significantly increased CD44 protein and mRNA in B cells within 24 hours.
  • Other stimuli like LPS, PDBu, and IL-4 did not induce significant CD44 upregulation.
  • Both short-term and long-term antigen-specific B cells were found to be exclusively CD44high.

Conclusions:

  • B cell activation via surface Ig is a potent inducer of CD44 expression.
  • The rapid and sustained increase in CD44 may modulate the homing capabilities of antigen-primed B cells.

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