Incomplete block of B cell development and immunoglobulin production in mice carrying the μ MT mutation on the BALB/c background

The expression of the preB cell receptor (preBCR), composed of the μ  chain, surrogate light chains and the Igα /Igβ  signal transduction unit, permits further differentiation of Bcell precursors. C57BL/6 mice homozygous for an inactivating mutation of the membrane exon of the μ  chain gene (C57BL/6...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of immunology 2002-12, Vol.32 (12), p.3463-3471
Main Authors: Hasan, Milena, Polic, Bojan, Bralic, Marina, Jonjic, Stipan, Rajewsky, Klaus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Immune response
Immunoglobulin
Isotype switch
Plasma cell
μ  chain
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Summary:The expression of the preB cell receptor (preBCR), composed of the μ  chain, surrogate light chains and the Igα /Igβ  signal transduction unit, permits further differentiation of Bcell precursors. C57BL/6 mice homozygous for an inactivating mutation of the membrane exon of the μ  chain gene (C57BL/6μ MT/μ MT) cannot form a preBCR and are, consequently, devoid of mature B lymphocytes. Here we present evidence that the block of B cell development by the μ MT mutation is incomplete in BALB/c mice. Unlike C57BL/6μ MT/μ MT, BALB/cμ MT/μ MT mice generate small numbers of mature B cells, accumulate plasma cells and produce high levels of all immunoglobulin isotypes, except IgM. The observed phenomenon seems to be controlled by a single genetic locus that is not linked to IgH.
ISSN:0014-2980
1521-4141
DOI:10.1002/1521-4141(200212)32:12<3463::AID-IMMU3463>3.0.CO;2-B