Ontogeny of murine B lymphocytes: sequence of B-cell differentiation from surface-immunoglobulin-negative precursors to plasma cells.

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Abstract
Among bone-marrow-derived (B) lymphocytes exist subpopulations of cells that can be induced to express the markers: surface immunoglobulin (Ig), the antigen associated with the immune response gene (Ia), and the receptor for the 3rd complement component (CR). Inducible cells for the 1st 2 markers are found in bone marrow, and inducible cells for all 3 are in the spleen. Experiments were designed to determine whether induction involves a single precursor cell population that on triggering with [Escherichia coli] lipopolysaccharide expresses all 3 surface markers, or 3 separate precursor cell populations each of which expresses a single marker. Specific B cell subpopulations were eliminated by treatment with anti-Ig or anti-Ia and complement, or by rosette formation with [sheep] erythrocytes-antibody-[mouse]-complement followed by differential centrifugation, and surviving cells were subsequently tested for inducibility of the 3 B cell markers. After anti-Ig cytolysis only Ig, but not Ia and CR, could be induced, implying that the Ia- and the CR-inducible cells are Ig+. Similarly, after anti-Ia cytolysis Ig and Ia but not CR could be induced. Thus, CR-inducible cells must have the Ig+Ia+ phenotype. Elimination of CR+ cells did not affect the induction of Ig, Ia or CR from their precursors. None of the 3 elimination experiments affected the conversion of prothymocytes (Thy-1-) to thymocytes (Thy-1+). The differentiation of B lymphocytes may proceed through at least 4 distinct stages characterized by the following phenotypes: Ig-Ia-CR- .fwdarw. Ig+Ia-CR- .fwdarw. Ig+Ia+CR- .fwdarw. Ig+Ia+CR+.