Differential expression of a CD45R epitope(6B2) on murine CD5+ B cells: possible difference in the post-translational modification of CD45 molecules.

Although murine peritoneal B cells were homogenously positive for an epitope Lp-2, coded for by the alternative exon 4 of the CD45 gene, they were heterogenous with respect to the expression of another CD45R epitope, 6B2, of unknown exon dependency. While the majority of 6B2-high peritoneal B cells was composed of CD5- B cells, those with low or negative 6B2 were CD5+ B cells. Both 6B2+ and 6B2- peritoneal B cells expressed mainly the same largest CD45R transcripts, with all three alternative exon (4, 5, and 6) sequences. Further, a CD5+ B lymphoma cell line, BCL-1, which was found to be Lp-2+6B2- also had the largest isoform of CD45R molecules with all three alternate structures. Although enzyme digestion studies suggested that the 6B2 epitope resides in protein, not in sugar structures, it is likely that a post-translational modification of CD45R molecules is responsible for the presence or absence of 6B2 epitope expression on peritoneal CD5+ B cells. This event may be related to the differential role of CD45R molecules in regulating lymphocyte function.