Purification and immunophenotypic characterization of human B cells with regulatory functions

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1190:45-52. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1161-5_4.

Abstract

The analysis of human B cell populations of the blood relies on the expression of surface markers, mainly CD19, CD24, CD38, and CD27. According to these surface markers, three main B cell subsets can be identified in the blood: immature transitional B cells (CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(high)), naïve B cells (CD19(+)CD24(int)CD38(int)) that have not encountered an antigen, and memory B cells (CD19(+)CD27(+)). To date, human B cells with regulatory functions have been essentially described within the CD24(high)CD38(high) transitional B cell subset. CD24(high)CD38(high) transitional B cells are able to produce interleukin 10 (IL-10) and to regulate in vitro Th1 and Th17 CD4(+) T cell activation. Here, we provide the methods to analyze and purify the CD24(high)CD38(high) transitional B cell subset for further in vitro experiments. We also provide a reliable method to detect B cell IL-10 production using intracellular cytokine staining.

MeSH terms

  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / analysis*
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • CD24 Antigen / analysis*
  • CD24 Antigen / immunology
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping / methods*
  • Interleukin-10 / analysis
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology

Substances

  • CD24 Antigen
  • Interleukin-10
  • ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1