Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: The thymus is a central lymphoid organ responsible for the development of T cells. Here, we show that the thymus of human neonates also contains a consistent contingent of CD138+ plasma cells, producing all classes and subclasses of immunoglobulins with the exception of IgD. These antibody-secreting cells (ASC) are comprised within a larger subset of B cells lacking expression of the complement receptors CD21 and CD35 and sharing the expression of signature genes defining mouse B1 B cells. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses supported the intrathymic differentiation of CD138+ plasma cells alongside other B cell subsets with distinctive molecular phenotypes. Neonatal thymic plasma cells also included clones reactive to pathogenic bacteria that commonly infect children born with antibody deficiency. Thus, our findings point to the thymus as a source of innate humoral immunity in human neonates.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,560
Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cancer Research Institute, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, NIH Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Awards: G1405919810, G1595625631, G1801504282, G1974704272, Development and significance of the plasma cell niche in the human infant thymus, G3873106268, BD Biosciences Influx, G4946528881, G5248094197, Effects of neonatal microbial exposure on anti-polysaccharide B cell development, Effects of neonatal microbial exposure on anti-polysaccharide B cell development, G8159534259, 120kV Transmission Electron Microscope for a Multi-user Microscopy Facility, G9000085482, Cancer Center Support Grant
OpenAlex ID: W3154125530