Definition of a novel cellular constituent of the bone marrow that regulates the response of immature B cells to B cell antigen receptor engagement.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Previously we defined a Thy1(dull) bone marrow-derived cell population that regulated fate decisions by immature B cells after Ag receptor signaling. The microenvironmental signals provided by this cell population were shown to redirect the B cell Ag receptor -induced apoptotic response of immature B cells toward continued recombination-activating gene (RAG) expression and secondary light chain recombination (receptor editing). Neither the identity of the cell responsible for this activity nor its role in immature B cell development in vivo were addressed by these previous studies. Here we show that this protective microenvironmental niche is defined by the presence of a novel Thy1(dull), DX5(pos) cell that can be found in close association with immature B cells in vivo. Depletion of this cell eliminates the anti-apoptotic effect of bone marrow in vitro and leads to a significant decrease in the number and frequency of bone marrow immature B cells in vivo. We propose that, just as the bone marrow environment is essential for the survival and progression of pro-B and pre-B cells through their respective developmental checkpoints, this cellular niche regulates the progression of immature stage B cells through negative selection.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Sandel, PC; Gendelman, M; Kelsoe, G; Monroe, JG
Published Date
- May 15, 2001
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 166 / 10
Start / End Page
- 5935 - 5944
PubMed ID
- 11342608
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-1767
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.4049/jimmunol.166.10.5935
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States