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Expression of α4β7 and E‐selectin ligand by circulating memory B cells: implications for targeted trafficking to mucosal and systemic sites
Author(s) -
Rott Lusijah S.,
Briskin Michael J.,
Butcher Eugene C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.68.6.807
Subject(s) - homing (biology) , biology , lymphocyte homing receptor , immunology , immune system , receptor , immunoglobulin d , memory b cell , b cell , naive b cell , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , cell , cell adhesion , antigen presenting cell , antibody , genetics , ecology
We have examined the expression of homing receptors on circulating memory B cells subsets. Blood IgD + (naive) B cells homogeneously express a high level of intestinal homing receptor, α4β7, but IgD − (putative memory) B cells comprise distinct α4β7 + and α4β7 − subsets. Naive and α4β7 + memory B cells but not α4β7 − cells bind MAdCAM‐1, suggesting that α4β7 expression may predict B cell intestinal homing. In contrast, α4β7 + and α4β7 − B cells bind well to VCAM‐1, possibly allowing recruitment of both subsets to extra‐intestinal sites, including those tissues of the “common mucosal immune system” characterized by vascular VCAM‐1 expression. sIgA + B cells, which are associated with mucosal immunity in the gut and elsewhere, are heterogeneous in homing receptor expression—with discrete subsets expressing α4β7, L‐selectin, and cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA). sIgA + CLA + B cells are enriched by binding to E‐selectin, suggesting that CLA may participate in B cell homing to nonintestinal mucosal tissues characterized by vascular E‐selectin expression, such as chronically inflamed bronchial or oral mucosal. We conclude that circulating human peripheral blood memory B cells, like T cells, consist of discrete homing receptor‐defined subsets. This diversity in homing phenotypes is apparent even among sIgA (presumptive mucosal) memory B cells, implying heterogeneity in trafficking mechanisms to different target mucosal surfaces.