Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2430095 | Developmental & Comparative Immunology | 2010 | 8 Pages |
The production of B cells and the primary antibody repertoire in mammalian species other than rodents or man appears to depend on gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Bovine B cells are generated in ileal Peyer's patch from late gestational to juvenile age. However, little is known about where and when the bona fide B lymphopoiesis takes place. We analyzed bovine fetuses for signs of ongoing B lymphopoiesis using a combination of immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative PCR and RNA in situ hybridization. In fetal bone marrow and lymph node, we could demonstrate pre-B like cells positive for intracellular Ig μ but negative for membrane IgM. Strong expression of immunoglobulin lambda-like polypeptide 1 and recombination activating genes was also detected in the same tissues. Similar analyses did not reveal pre-B like cells in the corresponding adult tissues. These results suggest that bovine fetal bone marrow and lymph node support B lymphopoiesis via a pre-B cell like stage before and in parallel to the development of the ileal Peyer's patch.