Variable gene usage, physiology and development of Ly-1+ (CD5+) B cells

Abstract

Two related features of Ly-1+ B cells (CD5+ B cells in man) are their biased specificities and variable gene usage, and their relationship to the bulk of Ly-1- ('conventional') B cells. An emerging model views Ly-1+ B cells as a memory population in the adult animal, whose generation is largely limited to fetal and neonatal development. Selection based on germline-encoded self-reactivity then shapes the adult repertoire.