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Expression of the Human Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain V H 6 Gene Element by Fetal B Lymphocytes
Author(s) -
RAAPHORST F. M.,
LANGLOIS VAN DEN BERGH R.,
WAAIJER J. L. M.,
VOSSEN J. M.,
VAN TOL M. J. D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3083.1997.d01-129.x
Subject(s) - fetus , antibody , spleen , biology , gene , gene expression , bone marrow , monoclonal antibody , b cell , messenger rna , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , genetics , pregnancy , medicine
Fetal B lymphocytes in mice and humans use a limited number of the available V H gene segments. Mouse fetal B cells primarily utilize 3′ V H elements, suggesting that the localization of these elements determines their rearrangement frequency. The previously reported non‐random usage of human V H genes has been more difficult to explain. In this study the authors analysed the expression of the most proximal 3′ human V H element (V H 6) using a monoclonal antibody (JE‐6). V H 6 expression was assessed in various B cell differentiation stages from fetal liver, bone marrow and spleen at 12–20 weeks of gestation. The authors demonstrate that the level of V H 6 expression does not exceed a stochastic usage frequency. This suggests that the localization of V H 6 does not significantly promote its expression during human fetal life, and that other factors must affect the usage of V H genes during human fetal development.