Anne-Marie Drapier

The Bw Cells, a Novel B Cell Population Conserved in the Whole Genus Mus

In common laboratory mouse strains, which are derived from the crossing between three subspecies, peritoneal B cells are enriched in B-1a cells characterized by the CD5+Mac-1+B220lowIgMhighIgDlowCD43+CD9+ phenotype. Intriguingly in other vertebrates, CD5+Mac-1+ cells have never been found in a specific anatomic site. To ascertain the peculiarity of the CD5+ peritoneal B cells in laboratory mice, we analyzed the peritoneal B cell subsets in 9 inbred and 39 outbred wild-derived mouse strains belonging to 13 different species/subspecies. We found that most of these strains do not have the CD5+ B-1a cell population. However, all of these strains including classical laboratory mouse strains, have variable proportions of a novel B cell population: Bw, which is characterized by a unique phenotype (CD5−Mac-1+B220highIgMhighIgDhighCD43−CD9−) and is not restricted to the peritoneal cavity. Bw cells are also distinct from both B-1 and B-2 cells from a functional point of view both by proliferative responses, cytokine secretion and Ab synthesis. Moreover, transfer experiments show that bone marrow and fetal liver cells from wild mice can give rise to Bw cells in alymphoid mice. The conservation of this B cell population, but not of the CD5+ B-1a, during evolution of the genus Mus, its readiness to respond to TLR ligands and to produce high concentration of autoantibodies suggest that Bw cells play a key role in innate immunity.

Simultaneous separation of 1-dimethylamino-5-naphthalenesulfonyl amino acids and 2,4-dinitrophenyl amino acids by two dimensional thin-layer chromatography on cellulose powder

SummarySeparation procedure and positions of 46 dinitrophenylamino acids and dimethylaminonaphtalene sulfonylaminoacid spots obtained by thin-layer chromatography on cellulose powder are described. Separation methods previously described for dinitrophenylamino acids [1,3,4] and dansylaminoacids [2] are used.

Wild-derived mouse strains, a valuable model to study B cell responses.

In the present report, we revisited the B cell responsiveness of 7 wild-derived mouse strains to various toll-like receptor ligands (TLR-L). We found that 2 of them, namely PWK and STF presented profound defects in B cell proliferative responses to most of the TLR-L. Yet, their macrophage responses were largely unaffected, suggesting that regulation of TLR pathways are distinct in B cells and macrophages. We also showed that, anti-CD40 mAbs rescued the low proliferative responses to CpG in both PWK and STF B cells. In the other hand, CpG synergized with LPS to induce high levels of proliferation in STF B cells, which did not respond to LPS alone. Cytokine or immunoglobulin (Ig) productions, in vitro, were less impaired than the proliferative responses to LPS or CpG alone. In STF B cells, both ERK, P38 and JNK pathways were affected following in vitro TLR4 or TLR9 signaling. Moreover, while the basal levels of Ig secreting cells and of serum Igs were similar to that of control mice, antibody responses to both TI and TD antigens were severely affected, mainly in STF mice. Our findings therefore highlight the relevance of wild-derived mouse strains and TLR-L to study B cell physiology.

Mapping of Igk-V genes using backcrossed laboratory and wild mice.

In the mouse, the genes coding for the Ly-2 antigen, the β chain of the T-cell receptor, and the immunoglobulin kappa light chain have been located on chromosome 6. Although a tentative order has been proposed for these genes, very few data have been reported concerning their genetic distance. To address this question, we have produced backcross mice between SJL and MAI (a wild-derived strain belonging to the Mus musculus), since these mice segregate for the Ly-2 and Igk-C proteins and for the Igk-V24, Igk-V21, Igk-V10, Igk-V8, and Igk-V4 genes. Twelve recombinants were obtained from 163 backcross mice studied. Two mice showed a recombination between the (Igk-V24, Igk-V10, Igk-V8, Igk-V4) and the (Ly-2, Igk-C, Igk-V21) groups, and ten mice displayed a recombination between the (Igk-V24, Igk-V10, Igk-V8, Igk-V4) group and the Tcrb-C loci. These data imply the following gene order: Tcrb-C .... (Igk-V24, Igk-V10, Igk-V8, Igk-V4) .... (Igk-V21, Igk-C, Ly-2). They indicate a distance of 6.1 cM between Tcrb-C and (Igk-V24, Igk-V10, Igk-V8, Igk-V4) and 1.2 cM between Igk-V24, Igk-V10, Igk-V8, Igk-V4 and the (Igk-V21, Igk-C, Ly-2) groups.

New chromogenic reagents for labelling amino groups in peptides. Chromatographic and preparatives aspects

SummaryA new type of chromogenic reagent for labelling the amino groups of peptides or amino acids, 5-substituted 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzenes, is presented. These reagents are characterized by a polarity determined by the function included in the substituent in the 5-position and by the nature of this substituent. Preparation and chromatographic behaviour of these reagents, of eventual by-products of reactions and of some N-(2,4-dinitro-5-diethylaminophenyl)-peptides or amino acids are described.

Some effective solvents for rapid and reliable characterization of phenylthiohydantoin-amino acids

SummaryOne-dimensional chromatography with internal standards permits reliable identification of the phenylthiohydantoins from all the common amino acids with the following TLC systems: silica gel — “chloroform”/n-butyl acetate (90∶10), di-isopropylether/ethanol (95∶5), dichloromethane/ethanol/acetic acid (90∶8∶2) ortrans-dichloroethylene/ethanol/acetic acid (88∶10∶2); and cellulose with 25% formic acid — heptane/isobutanol/75% fromic acid (40∶30∶9) or silica gel — “chloroform”/ ethanol/acetic acid/water (50∶47∶0.5∶2.5).