The Journal of Immunology, Vol 135, Issue 6 3777-3784, Copyright © 1985 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Preparation and analysis of antigen-specific memory B cells

E Yefenof, VM Sanders, EC Snow, RJ Noelle, KG Oliver, JW Uhr and ES Vitetta

A procedure has been developed for the enrichment of TNP-binding memory B cells (TNP-MABC) from spleens of immunized mice. More than 75% of the cells expressed surface IgM (sIgM) and IgD (sIgD) and about 9% expressed surface IgG (sIgG). The TNP-MABC consisted of small resting lymphocytes with high affinity antigen-binding receptors. These cells expressed increased densities of Ia antigens and decreased densities of sIgD. Adoptive transfer of the cells into irradiated, carrier-primed syngeneic recipients resulted in their differentiation into IgG anti- TNP antibody-secreting cells. TNP-MABC secreted high affinity IgG anti- TNP antibodies when cultured in vitro with carrier-primed T cells and antigen. Limiting dilution analysis revealed that TNP-MABC contained a relatively low frequency of precursors for IgG-secreting cells that had an exceptionally large clone size. These results show that a highly enriched population of antigen-specific memory B cells can now be prepared and used to analyze their activation requirements.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. G. Tangye and K. L. Good Human IgM+CD27+ B Cells: Memory B Cells or "Memory" B Cells? J. Immunol., July 1, 2007; 179(1): 13 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]