Maturation of bone marrow lymphocytes

The role of mammalian bone marrow in generating surface IgM (sIgM)-bearing B lymphocytes is reviewed. Precursor cells in the marrow give rise to large, rapidly dividing cells bearing free cytoplasmic mu chains (c mu). The progeny of the large c mu+ cells form a population of small, nondividing c mu+ cells that mature into small lymphocytes, progressively expressing sIgM and other B-cell surface membrane components. Newly formed sIgM+ cells soon migrate through the bloodstream to the spleen and other lymphoid tissues, where they may die after a short lifespan or be activated to produce antibody molecules. The large-scale lymphocytopoiesis in the bone marrow thus maintains a population of rapidly renewed virgin B lymphocytes in the peripheral lymphoid tissues. This process continuously creates and selects B cell clones with the wide range of antibody specificities necessary to mediate primary humoral immune responses through postnatal life. A technique for perfusing radiolabeled anti-IgM antibodies in young mice has now permitted sIgM+ cells to be detected radioautographically in histological preparations of bone marrow under the electron microscope. Small sIgM+ lymphocytes are situated either singly or in small groups throughout the extravascular hemopoietic compartment of the bone marrow, often near sinusoid walls adjacent to late erythroblasts and reticular cells. Some regional concentrations of sIgM+ cells are apparent. sIgM+ cells also appear in transit through the sinusoidal endothelium and are markedly concentrated in the lumen of some sinusoids. Intrasinusoidal sIgM+ small lymphocytes have high densities of sIgM and long microvilli, on which sIgM molecules are concentrated. These studies reveal the localization and cell associations of specifically identified sIgM+ small lymphocytes in the extravascular marrow compartment and suggest that these cells may also undergo a transient intravascular storage and maturation phase. Use of this in vivo immunolabeling technique to detect other cell-surface markers may further elucidate the microenvironmental basis of B lymphocyte genesis in the bone marrow.

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Lectin‐binding patterns of small lymphocytes in bone marrow, thymus and spleen: demonstration of lymphocyte subsets by quantitative radioautography

Saveriano

Drinnan

Santer

et al. 1981

Eur J Immunol

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Cells from mouse bone marrow, thymus and spleen were exposed to 125I-labeled concanavalin A (Con A). Lens culinaris lectin (LCL), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), peanut agglutinin (PNA), or wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in a range of concentrations and examined radioautographically. Small lymphocytes in the three organs differed in the minimal concentration of each lectin which gave detectable surface labeling, while at optimal lectin concentrations, their labeling intensity profiles differed markedly. Inhibition by sugars demonstrated the labeling specificity. Major populations of bone marrow small lymphocytes bound WGA strongly, while Con A, SBA, HPA, PHA-P and LCL were bound only weakly, and PNA binding was lacking. Most thymus cells bound Con A, SBA, HPA, PHA-P and PNA strongly, WGA and LCL weakly. Subsets of bone marrow and thymus small lymphocytes differed from the major populations in their lectin-binding intensities. Spleen small lymphocytes were heterogeneous in the binding of each lectin. However, a major population bound LCL exceptionally strongly, while few cells bound PNA. Using a panel of lectins under standardized conditions, these studies show distinctive lectin-binding patterns for small lymphocytes in the bone marrow, thymus and spleen, respectively. Major and minor cell populations are distinguishable in each organ, providing an approach to discriminating lymphocyte lineages, subtypes and differentiation stages.

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Maturation of bone marrow lymphocytes

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

Regulation and Localization of Lymphocyte Production in the Bone Marrow

Regulation and Localization of Lymphocyte Production in the Bone Marrow

Genesis of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow: Extravascular and intravascular localization of surface IgM‐bearing cells in mouse bone marrow detected by electron‐microscope radioautography after in vivo perfusion of ¹²⁵I anti‐IgM antibody

Lectin‐binding patterns of small lymphocytes in bone marrow, thymus and spleen: demonstration of lymphocyte subsets by quantitative radioautography

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Maturation of bone marrow lymphocytes

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

Regulation and Localization of Lymphocyte Production in the Bone Marrow

Regulation and Localization of Lymphocyte Production in the Bone Marrow

Genesis of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow: Extravascular and intravascular localization of surface IgM‐bearing cells in mouse bone marrow detected by electron‐microscope radioautography after in vivo perfusion of 125I anti‐IgM antibody

Lectin‐binding patterns of small lymphocytes in bone marrow, thymus and spleen: demonstration of lymphocyte subsets by quantitative radioautography

Contact Info

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Genesis of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow: Extravascular and intravascular localization of surface IgM‐bearing cells in mouse bone marrow detected by electron‐microscope radioautography after in vivo perfusion of ¹²⁵I anti‐IgM antibody