Immune Cell Research Guide: How B Cell Markers Are Selected

B lymphocytes (B cells) are an important and complex cell type that plays a central role

After extensive studies in humans and mice, the researchers identified unique populations of B cells, each of which is important

Marker of B cell development

Most B cells develop in the bone marrow (BM), followed by maturation in secondary lymphoid organs and eventually circulate

B cells form B1 and B2 lineages

What we commonly call B cells, also known as B2 cells, follow a continuous developmental program

After that, immature B cells leave the bone marrow and enter the peripheral blood

Follicular (FO) B cells are mainly found in follicles in the spleen and lymph nodes and are the main subset of B cells in humans and mice

A marker of secreting antibody cells

To efficiently produce antibodies, B cells eventually differentiate from their initial state into plasma blast cells and plasma cells

Plasma blast cells are short-lived activated B cells that secrete antibodies

Plasma cells are terminally differentiated B cells produced by activated GC B cells

B cell activation also produces a population of

Marker of regulatory B cells

A unique class of B cells, called regulatory B cells (Breg), has also been found, with immunosuppressive functions

Breg appears at multiple nodes in the development of B cells: immature B cells can differentiate into IL-10+ Breg, a population made up of several subpopulations; Immature and mature B cells can differentiate into IL-10+ plasma blastocytes; Memory B cells can differentiate into B10 Breg

Unlike Treg, which commonly expresses Foxp3, no single marker can identify all Of Breg

Common Breg subtypes and associated markers (image from Biocompare)