Cutting Edge: Impaired Transitional B Cell Production and Selection in the Nonobese Diabetic Mouse

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 176; no. 12; pp. 7159 - 7164
• Main Authors: Quinn, William J., III, Noorchashm, Negin, Crowley, Jenni E, Reed, Amy J, Noorchashm, Hooman, Naji, Ali, Cancro, Michael P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 15-06-2006
• Subjects: Aging - genetics; Aging - immunology; Animals; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - pathology; Bone Marrow Cells - cytology; Bone Marrow Cells - immunology; Cell Cycle - genetics; Cell Cycle - immunology; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cell Lineage - genetics; Cell Lineage - immunology; Cell Migration Inhibition; Clone Cells; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphopenia - immunology; Lymphopenia - pathology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred NOD; Species Specificity; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - immunology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.12.7159

Developing B cells undergo selection at multiple checkpoints to eliminate autoreactive clones. We analyzed B cell kinetics in the NOD mouse to establish whether these checkpoints are intact. Our results show that although bone marrow production is normal in NOD mice, transitional (TR) B cell production collapses at 3 wk of age, reflecting a lack of successful immature B cell migration to the periphery. This yields delayed establishment of the follicular pool and a lack of selection at the TR checkpoint, such that virtually all immature B cells that exit the bone marrow mature without further selection. These findings suggest that compromised TR B cell generation in NOD mice yields relaxed TR selection, affording autoreactive specificities access to mature pools.