Among naive precursor cell subpopulations only progenitors of memory B cells originate germinal centers

Abstract

Immunization leads to the generation of both antibody‐forming cells (AFC) and memory B cells which are thought to arise in germinal centers within lymphoid follicles. The findings that the precursors to memory B cells reside in the J11D^lo subpopulation of the spleens in non‐immune mice and that this subpopulation is distinct from conventional AFC precursors, including CD5⁺ B cells, suggest that the precursors of germinal centers might also reside in the J11D^lo subpopulation. To test this hypothesis, SCID mice were repopulated with CD4⁺ carrier‐primed T cells and T‐depleted J11D^lo, J11D^hi or CD5⁺ B cells and immunized with a hapten‐carrier conjugate. Only the J11D^lo population was enriched for cells that produced germinal centers. Thus, the subpopulation of precursors that generates memory B cells also originates germinal centers.