A small number of B cells are found in the thymus of normal mice. A population of B lymphocytes could be enriched to greater than 90% purity by isolating a low-density fraction on Percoll density gradients and then depleting T cells with a mixture of anti-Thy-1, CD4, and CD8 mAbs and complement. Enrichment was monitored by surface Ig staining and by functional studies (responsiveness to LPS, and to anti-mu plus IL-4). When the phenotype of these B cells was studied by flow cytometry, 60-80% had the phenotype Ly-1+ (CD5), Ia+, B220low (CD45R), and Mac-1+ (CD 11b). In contrast, splenic B cells lacked CD5 and CD11b and expressed higher levels of B220 and Ia antigens. These results indicate that most thymic B cells have the phenotype of the Ly-1 B cell subset, which was identified previously as a trace subpopulation in some peripheral tissues and is thought to play a role in autoantibody formation.
Article navigation
1 August 1988
Article|
August 01 1988
Unusual phenotype of B cells in the thymus of normal mice.
M Miyama-Inaba,
M Miyama-Inaba
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
S Kuma,
S Kuma
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
K Inaba,
K Inaba
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
H Ogata,
H Ogata
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
H Iwai,
H Iwai
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
R Yasumizu,
R Yasumizu
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
S Muramatsu,
S Muramatsu
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
R M Steinman,
R M Steinman
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
S Ikehara
S Ikehara
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Search for other works by this author on:
M Miyama-Inaba,
S Kuma,
K Inaba,
H Ogata,
H Iwai,
R Yasumizu,
S Muramatsu,
R M Steinman,
S Ikehara
First Department of Pathology, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Japan.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1988) 168 (2): 811–816.
Citation
M Miyama-Inaba, S Kuma, K Inaba, H Ogata, H Iwai, R Yasumizu, S Muramatsu, R M Steinman, S Ikehara; Unusual phenotype of B cells in the thymus of normal mice.. J Exp Med 1 August 1988; 168 (2): 811–816. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.168.2.811
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Suggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement
