Characterization of lymphocyte subsets in patients with common variable immunodeficiency reveals subsets of naive human B cells marked by CD24 expression

J Immunol. 2010 Dec 1;185(11):6431-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0903876. Epub 2010 Nov 1.

Abstract

Increased proportions of naive B cell subset and B cells defined as CD27(neg)CD21(neg)CD38(neg) are frequently found in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) syndrome. Current methods of polychromatic flow cytometry and PCR-based detection of κ deletion excision circles allow for fine definitions and replication history mapping of infrequent B cell subsets. We have analyzed B cells from 48 patients with CVID and 49 healthy controls to examine phenotype, frequency, and proliferation history of naive B cell subsets. Consistent with previous studies, we have described two groups of patients with normal (CVID-21norm) or increased (CVID-21lo) proportions of CD27(neg)CD21(neg)CD38(neg) B cells. Upon further analyses, we found two discrete subpopulations of this subset based on the expression of CD24. The B cell subsets showed a markedly increased proliferation in CVID-21lo patients as compared with healthy controls, suggesting developmental arrest rather than increased bone marrow output. Furthermore, when we analyzed CD21(pos) naive B cells, we found two different subpopulations based on IgM and CD24 expression. They correspond to follicular (FO) I and FO II cells previously described in mice. FO I subset is significantly underrepresented in CVID-21lo patients. A comparison of the replication history of naive B cell subsets in CVID patients and healthy controls implies refined naive B cell developmental scheme, in which human transitional B cells develop into FO II and FO I. We propose that the CD27(neg)CD21(neg)CD38(neg) B cells increased in some of the CVID patients originate from the two FO subsets after loss of CD21 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / classification
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology*
  • CD24 Antigen / biosynthesis*
  • CD24 Antigen / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Child
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency / immunology*
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency / metabolism
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency / pathology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype
  • Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CD24 Antigen
  • CD24 protein, human