Premium
B cell development and proliferation of mature B cells in human fetal intestine
Author(s) -
Golby Sarah,
Hackett Maggie,
Boursier Laurent,
DunnWalters Deborah,
Thiagamoorthy Sivashankari,
Spencer Jo
Publication year - 2002
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.72.2.279
Subject(s) - biology , fetus , microbiology and biotechnology , population , b cell , cd20 , immunology , gene , antibody , genetics , pregnancy , demography , sociology
B cells are present in human fetal intestine from approximately 14 weeks of gestation. Here we show that this population includes mature, dividing B cells. These are large cells with dendritic processes, resembling human thymic B cells. In addition, we observed IgM+, light chain−, and CD20− cells and local expression of V pre‐B, demonstrating that the human fetal intestine is a site of B cell development. Ig V H DJ H gene sequencing can confirm clonal identity of B cells. Identification of the same IgV H 4–34 sequence in serial sections in two fetuses confirmed local accumulation of related cells in each case. IgV H 4–34 was also amplified from an additional two samples, and the D and J repertoire compared with a unique database of unselected V H 4–34 genes from postnatal gut. Distinguishing characteristics of Ig λ genes in postnatal gut were also studied in the fetus. According to these parameters, fetal and postnatal B cells are unrelated.