Cutting edge: Hierarchy of maturity of murine memory B cell subsets

J Immunol. 2010 Dec 15;185(12):7146-50. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002163. Epub 2010 Nov 15.

Abstract

The paucity of murine memory B cell markers has been a significant impediment to the study of memory. The most commonly used marker is IgG, which is neither sensitive nor specific, because activated nonmemory cells can be IgG(+), and memory cells can be IgM(+). In this article, we show that, together, PD-L2 (CD273), CD80, and CD73 define at least five phenotypic subsets of murine memory B cells. These subsets are generated from naive cells bearing a single BCR in response to a single T-dependent Ag. This diversity is independent of class switch, because IgG(1)- and IgM-bearing memory cells are found within each compartment. Memory subsets defined by PD-L2, CD80, and CD73 are biologically distinct from one another, because they differ in ontogeny and selection. Together, these distinctions suggest that there is a spectrum of memory B cells and progressive acquisition from more naive-like to more memory-like properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Immunologic Memory / genetics
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell