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Human B cells express a CD45 isoform that is similar to murine B220 and is downregulated with acquisition of the memory B‐cell marker CD27
Author(s) -
Bleesing Jack J. H.,
Fleisher Thomas A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cytometry part b: clinical cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1552-4957
pISSN - 1552-4949
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.b.10007
Subject(s) - b cell , biology , gene isoform , naive b cell , memory b cell , cellular differentiation , flow cytometry , cell , cell type , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , immunology , cd40 , antibody , genetics , cytotoxic t cell , gene
Background Differences between human and murine B cells exist at all stages of B‐cell development, including the stage of memory B‐cell formation. B cells in mice are identified with the pan–B‐cell–specific CD45 isoform, B220. In initial studies in humans, it appeared that B220 expression did not include all B cells. This study was performed to expand on those preliminary findings. Methods Multiparameter flow cytometric detection of B220 expression on B cells was combined with a variety of B‐cell markers. Results In contrast to mice, B220 was not a pan–B‐cell marker in humans but was downregulated in the majority of B cells that acquired the human memory B‐cell marker, CD27, whereas a minor memory B‐cell subset remained B220 + , suggesting differences in differentiation. Conclusions The B220 isoform in humans is developmentally regulated in humans, tied to the acquisition of a memory phenotype, and as such can be used as a differentiation‐specific CD45 isoform, akin to the use of CD45 isoforms to distinguish between naive and memory T‐cell subsets. Patients with immunodeficiency disorders, associated with defective memory B‐cell generation and absent or reduced CD27 + B cells, showed a corresponding lack of B220 downregulation consistent with altered differentiation of B‐cell subsets. Cytometry Part B (Clin. Cytometry) 51B:1–8, 2003. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.