| First Author | Carvalho TL | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 194 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 1141-50 |
| PubMed ID | 11602642 | Mgi Jnum | J:72213 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2152001 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.194.8.1141 |
| Citation | Carvalho TL, et al. (2001) Arrested b lymphopoiesis and persistence of activated b cells in adult interleukin 7(-/)- mice. J Exp Med 194(8):1141-50 |
| abstractText | Interleukin 7 is a crucial factor for the development of murine T and B lymphocytes. We now report that, in the absence of interleukin 7, B lymphocyte production takes place exclusively during fetal and perinatal life, ceasing after 7 wk of age. In peripheral organs, however, the pool of B lymphocytes is stable throughout adult life and consists only of cells that belong to the B1 and marginal zone (MZ) compartments. This is accompanied by a 50-fold increase in the frequency of immunoglobulin (Ig)M- and IgG-secreting cells, and the concentration of serum immunoglobulins is increased three- to fivefold. Both the MZ phenotype and the increase in serum IgM are T cell independent. These findings reveal a previously undescribed pathway of B lymphopoiesis that is active in early life and is interleukin 7 independent. This pathway generates B1 cells and a normal sized MZ B lymphocyte compartment. |
