Positive selection of the peripheral B cell repertoire in gut-associated lymphoid tissues.

ABSTRACT: Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) interact with intestinal microflora to drive GALT development and diversify the primary antibody repertoire; however, the molecular mechanisms that link these events remain elusive. Alicia rabbits provide an excellent model to investigate the relationship between GALT, intestinal microflora, and modulation of the antibody repertoire. Most B cells in neonatal Alicia rabbits express V(H)n allotype immunoglobulin (Ig)M. Within weeks, the number of V(H)n B cells decreases, whereas V(H)a allotype B cells increase in number and become predominant. We hypothesized that the repertoire shift from V(H)n to V(H)a B cells results from interactions between GALT and intestinal microflora. To test this hypothesis, we surgically removed organized GALT from newborn A

SUBMITTER: Rhee KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2212770 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature