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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2002;72:279-284.)
© 2002 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

B cell development and proliferation of mature B cells in human fetal intestine

Department of Histopathology, GKT Medical School, St. Thomas’ Campus, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence: Jo Spencer, Department of Histopathology, GKT Medical School, St. Thomas’ Campus, Lambeth Palace Rd., London SE1 7EH, UK E-mail: jo.spencer{at}kcl.ac.uk

B cells are present in human fetal intestine from approximately 14 weeks of gestation. Here we show that this population includes mature, dividing B cells. These are large cells with dendritic processes, resembling human thymic B cells. In addition, we observed IgM+, light chain-, and CD20- cells and local expression of V pre-B, demonstrating that the human fetal intestine is a site of B cell development. Ig V_HDJ_H gene sequencing can confirm clonal identity of B cells. Identification of the same IgV_H4–34 sequence in serial sections in two fetuses confirmed local accumulation of related cells in each case. IgV_H4–34 was also amplified from an additional two samples, and the D and J repertoire compared with a unique database of unselected V_H4–34 genes from postnatal gut. Distinguishing characteristics of Ig genes in postnatal gut were also studied in the fetus. According to these parameters, fetal and postnatal B cells are unrelated.

Key Words: mucosa • pre-B cells • plasma cells • thymic B cells