Memory B lymphocytes determine repertoire oligoclonality early after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Clin Exp Immunol. 2003 Oct;134(1):159-66. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02260.x.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate if oligoclonality of the Ig repertoire post-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is restricted to memory B lymphocytes or if it is a general property among B lymphocytes. As a measure of B lymphocyte repertoire diversity, we have analysed size distribution of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified Ig H complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) in naive and memory B lymphocytes isolated from patients before HSCT and at 3, 6 and 12 months after HSCT as well as from healthy controls. We demonstrate a limited variation of the IgH CDR3 repertoire in the memory B lymphocyte population compared to the naive B cell population. This difference was significant at 3 and 6 months post-HSCT. Compared to healthy controls there is a significant restriction of the memory B lymphocyte repertoire at 3 months after HSCT, but not of the naive B lymphocyte repertoire. Twelve months after HSCT, the IgH CDR3 repertoire in both memory and naive B lymphocytes are as diverse as in healthy controls. Thus, our findings suggest a role for memory B cells in the restriction of the oligoclonal B cell repertoire observed early after HSCT, which may be of importance when considering reimmunization of transplanted patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibody Diversity
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Clone Cells
  • Complementarity Determining Regions / genetics*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Postoperative Period
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Transplantation Conditioning
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / immunology

Substances

  • Complementarity Determining Regions
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7