ORIGINAL ARTICLE: CD27 super(+) B cells in human lymphatic organs: re-evaluating the splenic marginal zone

• Published in: Immunology 2005-12, Vol.116 (4), p.429-442
• Main Authors: Steiniger, Birte, Timphus, Eva-Maria, Jacob, Ralf, Barth, Peter J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2005.02242.x

The marginal zone of human spleens is regarded as an organ-specific region harbouring sessile memory B cells. This opinion has arisen by extrapolating from results obtained in mice and rats. Detection of CD27 super(+) B cells in situ now revealed similarities among the most superficial region of B-cell follicles in human spleens, reactive lymph nodes, inflamed appendices, tonsils and terminal ilea. The follicular surface in these organs consists of small naive immunoglobulin D (IgD) super(+) CD27 super(-) B cells predominating in an inner area and larger IgD super(+--) CD27 super(+) B cells prevailing in a more superficial position. CD27 super(+) B cells may, however, also occupy the entire follicular periphery around the germinal centre. Together with additional peculiarities this distribution indicates a fundamental microanatomical difference among the human and rodent splenic white pulp. We hypothesize that the follicular periphery represents a recirculation compartment both for naive and memory-natural reactive B cells in all human secondary lymphatic organs. This assumption implies a difference in recirculation behaviour among human and rodent B memory cells.