Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes
09:14

Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes

Published on: June 13, 2014

CD73 mediates adhesion of B cells to follicular dendritic cells

L Airas1, S Jalkanen

  • 1National Public Health Institute, Turku University, Finland.

Blood
|September 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

CD73, also known as ecto-5'-nucleotidase, mediates B cell adhesion to follicular dendritic cells (FDC). This interaction is crucial for B cell maturation within germinal centers, highlighting CD73's role in immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • CD73 (ecto-5'-nucleotidase) is a lymphocyte marker involved in signaling, proliferation, and activation.
  • Lymphocyte-vascular adhesion protein-2 was identified as CD73.
  • CD73 mediates lymphocyte binding to endothelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CD73 in B cell-follicular dendritic cell (FDC) interactions.
  • To determine if CD73 mediates adhesion between B cells and FDC.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro aggregation assays using isolated germinal center B cells and FDC.
  • Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) inhibition assay against CD73.
  • Cytocentrifuge preparations and two-color immunofluorescence staining of tonsillar B-cell populations.

Main Results:

  • A MoAb against CD73 inhibited the in vitro aggregation of germinal center B cells and FDC.
  • CD73 is expressed on FDC and small, recirculating IgD+ B cells.
  • Limited CD73 expression was observed on B cells within the germinal center.

Conclusions:

  • CD73 mediates B cell adhesion to FDC.
  • CD73 expressed on FDC plays a significant role in regulating B cell-FDC interactions.
  • CD73 is implicated in controlling B cell maturation within germinal centers.

More Related Videos

Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols08:31

Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols

Published on: October 18, 2016

Evaluation of T Follicular Helper Cells and Germinal Center Response During Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice07:07

Evaluation of T Follicular Helper Cells and Germinal Center Response During Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice

Published on: June 27, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...