The Journal of Immunology, Vol 149, Issue 5 1516-1523, Copyright © 1992 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Ontogeny and distribution of the murine B cell Fc gamma RII

TM Foy, RG Lynch and TJ Waldschmidt
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.

The distribution and expression of the IgG FcRII (Fc gamma RII) on normal murine B cells was examined. Using multicolor flow cytometry, spleens from neonatal mice of increasing age and adult bone marrow were analyzed for expression of the Fc gamma RII. In addition, B cells from peripheral lymphoid organs, as well as panel of B cell tumors, were tested. The results demonstrate that the Fc gamma RII is expressed on all pre-B cells and immature B cells in the neonatal spleen and adult bone marrow, on all mature B cells in peripheral lymphoid organs, and on switched B cells in Peyer's patches. Furthermore, the Fc gamma RII was found to be present on B cell tumors representative of all stages of B cell maturation and differentiation. Taken together, the results indicate that Fc gamma RII is expressed during the entire lifetime of the B cell. In addition, examination of spleen cells from neonatal mice revealed a large number of pre-B cells, phenotypically defined as B220+, IgM-. These pre-B cells were present at birth, peaked in number between 2 and 3 wk of age, and became a minor population by day 30. Further phenotypic analysis of these cells demonstrated the expression of the BLA-1 and BP-1 Ag, and the lack of T cell and NK cell markers, thus confirming their assignment to the B cell lineage. Finally, the Fc gamma RII present on these pre-B cells was shown to be functional, by virtue of its ability to bind aggregated IgG.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. de Andres, A. L. Mueller, S. Verbeek, M. Sandor, and R. G. Lynch A Regulatory Role for Fcgamma Receptors CD16 and CD32 in the Development of Murine B Cells Blood, October 15, 1998; 92(8): 2823 - 2829. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]