The in vitro derivation of phenotypically mature and diverse B cells from immature spleen and bone marrow precursors.

ABSTRACT: The capacity of immature B cells of the spleen and bone marrow to differentiate in vitro into cells representing mature end stage cells was investigated using B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) and Notch pathway activators. Immature splenic and bone marrow B cells were found, in the presence of both of these activators, to mature into cells with follicular mature (FM) and marginal zone (MZ) cell phenotypes. Such cells were functionally responsive to B-cell-specific activation. The derivation in vitro of cells with an MZ phenotype was more robust from CD23(-) populations than CD23(+) immature/transitional B cells, suggesting a direct immature/T1 B cell to MZ cell differentiation pathway. Transcript analysis of the in vitro-derived B-cell populations demonstrated exp

SUBMITTER: Roundy KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3040573 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature