A Common Pathway for Dendritic Cell and Early B Cell Development

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 167; no. 3; pp. 1387 - 1392
• Main Authors: Izon, David, Rudd, Kristina, DeMuth, William, Pear, Warren S, Clendenin, Cynthia, Lindsley, R. Coleman, Allman, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.08.2001
• Subjects: Aging - immunology; Animals; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Bone Marrow Cells - cytology; Bone Marrow Cells - immunology; Bone Marrow Cells - metabolism; CD4 Antigens - biosynthesis; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cell Lineage - immunology; Cells, Cultured; Dendritic Cells - cytology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - immunology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - metabolism; Hyaluronan Receptors; Immunophenotyping; Leukocyte Common Antigens - biosynthesis; Membrane Glycoproteins; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mitochondrial Proteins; Receptors, Complement - biosynthesis; Receptors, Interleukin-7 - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.3.1387

B cells and dendritic cells (DCs) each develop from poorly described progenitor cells in the bone marrow (BM). Although a subset of DCs has been proposed to arise from lymphoid progenitors, a common developmental pathway for B cells and BM-derived DCs has not been clearly identified. To address this possibility, we performed a comprehensive analysis of DC differentiative potential among lymphoid and B lymphoid progenitor populations in adult mouse BM. We found that both the common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs), shown here and elsewhere to give rise exclusively to lymphocytes, and a down-stream early B-lineage precursor population devoid of T and NK cell precursor potential each give rise to DCs when exposed to the appropriate cytokines. This result contrasts with more mature B-lineage precursors, all of which failed to give rise to detectable numbers of DCs. Significantly, both CLP and early B-lineage-derived DCs acquired several surface markers associated with functional DCs, and CLP-derived DCs readily induced proliferation of allogeneic CD4(+) T cells. Surprisingly, however, DC differentiation from both lymphoid-restricted progenitors was accompanied by up-regulation of CD11b expression, a cell surface molecule normally restricted to myeloid lineage cells including putative myeloid DCs. Together, these data demonstrate that loss of DC developmental potential is the final step in B-lineage commitment and thus reveals a previously unrecognized link between early B cell and DC ontogeny.