IgG anti-tetanus toxoid antibody synthesis by human bone marrow. I, Two distinct populations of marrow B cells and functional differences between marrow and peripheral blood B cells

• Published in: Journal of clinical immunology 1990-09, Vol.10 (5), p.255-264
• Main Authors: LUM, L. G, BURNS, E, JANSON, M. M, MARTIN, P. J, GIDDINGS, B. R, SEIGNEURET, M. C, NOGES, J. E, GALOFORO, S. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - secretion; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Marrow - immunology; Bone Marrow Cells; CD28 Antigens; Cells, Cultured; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulin G - secretion; Immunophenotyping; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - secretion; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tetanus Toxoid - immunology
• ISSN: 0271-9142; 1573-2592
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00916701

This investigation uses a system for inducing and detecting anti-tetanus toxoid antibody (anti-TT) synthesis to study specific antibody (Ab) synthesis by bone marrow mononuclear cells (MC). We measured the amounts of anti-TT secreted and the number of B cells secreting antibody (Ab). The ELISA plaque detects single B cells secreting specific Ab. The results show that (1) spontaneous anti-TT secretion by MC is higher than spontaneous anti-TT secretion by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) using an ELISA plaque (P less than 0.01); (2) spontaneous anti-TT production by MC correlated with the serum anti-TT titers as measured by an ELISA (r = 0.75, P = 0.005); (3) two types of marrow B cells were identified--one that spontaneously secretes anti-TT and another that produces anti-TT after TT-stimulation; (4) the frequency of anti-TT-secreting B cells is higher in MC than in PBL; (5) the amount of Ab secreted per marrow B cell is not different from that secreted by a peripheral B cell; and (6) marrow B cells could be induced to produce anti-TT in vitro up to 10 months without added cytokines. These results show that bone marrow is a major repository for differentiated B cells that spontaneously produce Abs to maintain circulating Abs titers and for memory B cells that can be induced to produce specific Ab.