CD21 cell populations

From: Richard K. Meister (meister.1@osu.edu)
Date: Wed Sep 19 2001 - 18:26:35 EST


Hello, everyone:

I've just finished running a series of flow cytometer samples of various
tissues obtained from necropsies of cats.  This was the termination of an
experiment (a cat model of disease).  The samples were stained for CD21
(among other markers).  I have used the same anti-cat CD21 monoclonal to
stain blood samples for years and have seen only one CD21(+) population -
and that one is relatively dim (4-decade log scale: negative cells in first
decade; CD21(+) cells in second decade).

The tissues analyzed this time included blood, spleen, lymph node and
thymus.  The CD21(+) populations in most of the tissues looked about the
same as what I have been used to seeing in blood samples.  In the spleen,
however, approximately 1/3 of the CD21(+) cells were found in a second
separate "bright" (third decade of the log scale) population.
Interestingly, the spleen cells also demonstrated a different FS vs. SS
profile than normal blood lymphocytes.  There is a semi-distinct population
of cells with slightly more FS and SS than normal lymphocytes
(approximately where one would expect to find monocytes).  And, the
"monocyte-like scatter" cells are the "bright" CD21(+) cells; and the
"normal-lymphocyte scatter" cells are the "dim" CD21(+) cells.

I'm trying to interpret these results.  I'm hypothesizing that the bright
CD21(+) cells are activated B cells.  Do any of you have experience
analyzing CD21 in spleen cells?  Is CD21 up-regulated in activated B cells?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Rick Meister
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*  Richard K. Meister                  Email:  meister.1@osu.edu  *
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