Expression of HIS50 Ag: a rat homologue of mouse heat-stable antigen and human CD24 on B lymphoid cells in the rat

Monoclonal antibodies to rat leukocyte surface antigens, MHC antigens, and immunoglobulins

The CD nomenclature used for human-leukocyte surface antigens is now being widely applied to naming their homologs in other species. This appendix catalogs those CD antigens that have been clearly defined in the rat. There are also many other antigens defined in the rat, but only those for which good biochemical data are available, such as amino acid sequences, are given here. The most commonly used antibodies are summarized.

CD24 expression causes the acquisition of multiple cellular properties associated with tumor growth and metastasis

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein CD24 functions as an adhesion molecule for P-selectin and L1 and plays a role in B-cell development and neurogenesis. Over the last few years, a large body of literature has also implicated CD24 expression in tumorigenesis and progression. Here, we show that ectopic CD24 expression can be sufficient to promote tumor metastasis in experimental animals. By developing a doxycycline-inducible system for the expression of CD24 in breast cancer cells, we have also analyzed the cellular properties that CD24 expression influences. We found that CD24 expression increased tumor cell proliferation. Furthermore, in addition to promoting binding to P-selectin, CD24 expression also indirectly stimulated cell adhesion to fibronectin, collagens I and IV, and laminin through the activation of alpha3beta1 and alpha4beta1 integrin activity. Moreover, CD24 expression supported rapid cell spreading and strongly induced cell motility and invasion. CD24-induced proliferation and motility were integrin independent. Together, these observations implicate CD24 in the regulation of multiple cell properties of direct relevance to tumor growth and metastasis.

Recruitment and selection of marginal zone B cells is independent of exogenous antigens

Marginal zone B (MZ-B) cells of the spleen contribute significantly to the immunity against invasive infections with polysaccharide-encapsulated bacteria. Recent evidence indicates that recruitment and selection of MZ-B cells occurs on the basis of positive selection constraints that likely operate via B cell receptor (BCR) signaling. Previous studies have shown that MZ-B cells carry relatively shorter immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H) chain complementarity-determining region 3 (H-CDR3) sequences and express BCR which are thought to be polyreactive. In this scenario, MZ-B cell selection proceeds via engagement of the BCR with exogenous (i.e. microbial gut flora-derived) and/or endogenous (self) antigens. Here, we studied the influence of exogenous antigens on the selection process of MZ-B cells using non-genetically manipulated adult germ-free and conventionally reared infant rats. This study was carried out by H-CDR3 spectratype analysis of V(H)(PC7183)-encoded Ig V(H)DJ(H)-mu transcripts expressed by purified splenic MZ-B cells and other B cell subsets. We show that MZ-B cells in both adult germ-free and conventionally reared infant (14-day-old) rats are H-CDR3-selected cells, providing strong evidence that recruitment and selection of MZ-B cells is driven by self antigens.

Flow cytometric analyses on lineage-specific cell surface antigens of rat bone marrow to seek potential myelotoxic biomarkers: status after repeated dose of 5-fluorouracil

Flow cytometry (FCM) analysis of CD45, CD45R, CD71 and CD90 expression on Crj:CD(SD)IGS rat bone marrow cells was done after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration to examine whether these lineage-specific cell surface antigens could be myelotoxic biomarkers. The expression of CD45 (CD45Low and CD45High: differing in expression intensity), CD45R, CD71 and CD90 on bone marrow cells coincided with previous reports. After repeated administration of 5-FU at 50 mg/kg/day for 1-5 days, a time-dependent decrease in cells expressing CD45Low, CD71 and CD90 was observed, whereas a decrease in the CD45High expressing cells was not observed. Furthermore, the decrease was dose-dependent in CD45Low, CD71 and CD90 expressing cells after administration of 5-FU between 2 and 50 mg/kg/day for 4 days. After 4-day repeated dose of 5-FU at 50 mg/kg/day followed by a recovery period, the change in number of CD45Low, CD45R, CD71 and CD90 cells to the bottom and in recovery showed different kinetics. In contrast, the change in number of CD45High cells was minimal, and relatively stable after 5-FU administration. The results suggest that CD45, CD45R and CD90 could each be potential myelotoxic biomarkers for a total proportion of common leukocytes including T- and B-lymphocytes, for a total proportion of B-lymphocytes, and for a total proportion of T-lymphocytes plus immature B-lymphocytes and common progenitor cells, respectively. CD71 could be a single myelotoxic biomarker for erythroid cells. Further study is required for isolation of each of the myelo-lymphocytic lineages. However, the present study showed that FCM analysis could be available to assess the lineage or differentiation stage-specific response, such as the different extent and time-course or the kinetics (the time to reach the bottom and to recover to the normal level) of myelotoxic effect in rat bone marrow.

Slow recovery of follicular B cells and marginal zone B cells after chemotherapy: implications for humoral immunity

Although most chemotherapeutic agents are known to cause primarily reduction or suppression of immune responses, surprisingly little is known about the influence of cytostatic agents on lymphoid tissue compartments such as the splenic marginal zone. The marginal zone plays an important role in the defence against encapsulated bacteria, which are potential candidates for postchemotherapeutic infections. We studied the effect of three different cytostatic agents (cisplatin, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide) on B cell subpopulations in a rat model. Rats received a single dose of a single cytostatic agent and were sacrificed at different time points after treatment. Bone marrow, blood, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens were analysed by flow-cytometry and immunohistochemistry. All three cytostatic agents showed severe bone marrow depression. CP and MTX showed only mild reduction of cell populations in the spleen. CyPh showed a severe reduction of recirculating follicular B (RF-B) cells and marginal zone B (MZ-B) cells. At day 24 most populations were already recovered, but RF-B cells and MZ-B cells were still reduced. The reduction of the marginal zone and late recovery may imply that, beside the overall increased infection risk due to neutropenia, patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk for developing infections from encapsulated bacteria for a considerable period of time after treatment, extending beyond the period of bone marrow depression.