Analysis of differential functional capacity and origins of memory B-lymphocyte subsets

• Applicant: Dr. Florian Weisel
• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 168822126

Immunological memory is a defining feature of the adaptive immune response. Very recently it was shown in the laboratory of Dr. M. Shlomchik that memory B-lymphocytes are comprised of clear phenotypic subsets that can be identified by specific expression of the cell-surface markers CD80, PD-L2 and CD73. By using NP-specific murine memory B cell systems, which provide a large number of antigen-specific memory B cells after immunization, I will further characterize these newly described subsets in the proposed fellowship. Main objectives are to determine their origins and to test whether memory B cell subsets have differential functional capacity. Experiments will be performed to address whether type and degree of stimulation influences the subset type of memory B cells generated. Subsets will be purified to identify proliferative and differentiative capacity in vitro and in vivo. These subsets will be further dissected using gene expression profiling, RT-qPCR, and FACS, comparing the subsets to each other and to naïve cells in order to obtain insight into differential function. The delineation of such memory B cell subsets should provide important insight into how secondary B cell responses function.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Mark J. Shlomchik, Ph.D.