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Expression of Three Immunoglobulin Isotypes by Individual B Cells During Development: Implications for Heavy Chain Switching *
Author(s) -
GANDINI M.,
KUBAGAWA H.,
GATHINGS W.E.,
LAWTON A.R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 0271-7352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1981.tb00028.x
Subject(s) - immunoglobulin d , biology , antibody , immunology , immunofluorescence , phenotype , ontogeny , heavy chain , immunoglobulin heavy chain , immunoglobulin class switching , microbiology and biotechnology , b cell , genetics , gene
Previous studies in mice and humans have shown that the first IgA + and IgG + B cells appearing during ontogeny also bear IgM on the surface. The acquisition of IgD seems to occur at a later stage in differentiation. In this study we have combined autoradiography with two‐color immunofluorescence to directly detect human B cells expressing three surface isotypes. We report that the vast majority of IgA + cells in the neonate also bear IgM and IgD; the same holds true for IgG + cells. This phenotype is peculiar of newborns, while in the adult the majority of IgA + and IgG + cells are single. We discuss the genetic implications of such a finding for heavy chain switching.