Cellular dynamics of memory B cell populations: IgM+ and IgG+ memory B cells persist indefinitely as quiescent cells

摘要

Despite their critical role in long-term immunity, the lifespan of individual memory B cells remains poorly defined. Using a tetracycline-regulated pulse-chase system, we measured population turnover rates and individual half-lives of pre-established antigen-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) class-switched and IgM-positive memory B cells over 402 days. Our results indicate that, once established, both IgG-positive and less frequent IgM-positive memory populations are exceptionally stable, with little evidence of attrition or cellular turnover. Indeed, the vast majority of cells in both pools exhibited half-lives that appear to exceed the lifespan of the mouse, contrasting dramatically with mature naïve B cells. These results indicate that recall antibody responses are mediated by stable pools of extremely long-lived cells, and suggest that antigen-experienced B cells employ remarkably efficient survival mechanisms.