Abstract
IgA B cells have been detected in the peripheral circulation of most patients with IgA deficiency. It has recently been shown that the surface isotypes expressed by human IgA B cells vary as a function of their stage of maturation. To determine the stage at which IgA B cell differentiation is blocked in patients with IgA deficiency, peripheral blood lymphocytes from 11 patients with serum levels of IgA ≤ 2 mg/dl were stained for surface immunoglobulins by immunofluorescent techniques. Cells expressing surface IgA were detected in all patient samples but occurred at a significantly lower frequency than in samples from normal controls (0.09% vs. 1.4% of the total lymphocytes). In 10 of the 11 patients 87% of the IgA B cells co-expressed IgM (range 70-100) and 81% expressed IgD (range 65-94). This staining pattern was similar to that seen in the normal newborn in which 95% of the IgA B cells expressed IgM and IgD. In contrast only 5% of the IgA B cells from normal adults co-expressed IgM and IgD. The remaining IgA deficient patient had only 0.05% IgA B cells but these cells demonstrated a typical adult phenotype. 3% of the IgA B cells bore IgM and none bore IgD. These results indicate that in most patients with IgA deficiency IgA B cells differentiation is blocked at an early stage. (Supported by NIH Grants CA16673 and 5MOR32 and National Foundation Grant 1-608),
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Conley, M., Cooper, M. 906 IMMATURE PHENOTYPE OF IGA B CELLS FROM IGA DEFICIENT PATIENTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 593 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00931
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00931