B-cell subsets: functional and structural characteristics.

The review will examine B-cell differentiation with an emphasis on B-cell subpopulations. We will begin with an analysis of current evidence concerning B-cell ontogeny. The development of the B-cell repertoire will be traced from stem cell to effector cells. The CBA/N mouse, which expresses an X-linked immunodeficiency, will serve as a basis for discussing the delineation of B cells into subpopulations. The CBA/N mouse provides evidence for distinct populations of B cells which can be differentiated by cell surface antigens as well as function. We intend to focus on the functional diversity of B-cell subpopulations and how they develop. The CBA/N mouse is not the only evidence for distinct B cell subpopulations and we will attempt to organize these data into a coherent story of B-cell subsets.