Ontogeny of mouse B lymphocytes and inactivation by antigen of early B lymphocytes.

Ontogeny of B Lymphocytes

Many bursa-equivalent (B) lymphocytes of adult mice bear surface Ig and receptors for C3. The frequency of Ig-bearing cells increases rapidly immediately after birth, but these cells lack complement (C) receptors. Lymphocytes bearing C receptors are not found in the spleens of BALB/c, DBA/2, and C57BL/6 mice until 2 wk of age and do not attain substantial numbers until 3-4 wk of age. In AKR mic...

Epitope-directed processing of specific antigen by B lymphocytes

Proteolytic processing of specific antigen was studied using Epstein Barr virus transformed B-lymphoblastoid cells expressing membrane IgG against tetanus toxin. As previously reported (Watts, C., and H.W. Davidson. 1988. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 7:1937-1945), receptor-mediated endocytosis of monovalent antigen bound at 0 degrees C began immediately upon shifting the cells to 37 degrees...

Presentation by B Lymphocytes NK Cell Enhancement of Antigen

B lymphocytes secrete antigen-presenting vesicles

Antigen-presenting cells contain a specialized late endocytic compartment, MIIC (major histocompatibility complex [MHC] class II-enriched compartment), that harbors newly synthesized MHC class II molecules in transit to the plasma membrane. MIICs have a limiting membrane enclosing characteristic internal membrane vesicles. Both the limiting membrane and the internal vesicles contain MHC class I...

B Lymphocytes as Antigen-Presenting Cells