Abstract
In vitro, aged pro-B cells generally exhibit limited expansion in response to IL-7 when compared to young pro-B cells. CFSE-labeling in vitro indicated that aged mice have a lower frequency of pro-B cells which are capable of undergoing extensive proliferation upon stimulation with exogenous IL-7. Protein levels of the survival molecule Bcl-xL were consistently reduced in IL-7 expanded aged pro-B cells. Levels of both Bcl-2 and Baxα proteins were variable in aged B cell precursors. The expansion of aged pro-B cells in response to IL-7 in vitro correlated inversely with the ratio of the pro-apoptotic protein Baxα to the survival protein Bcl-2. Expansion of aged pro-B cells in vitro is likely dictated by both recruitment of pro-B cells into proliferative compartments and their survival; in aged B cell precursors, the latter is favored by low Baxα to Bcl-2 protein ratios.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 147-153 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Mechanisms of Ageing and Development |
Volume | 124 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2003 |
Keywords
- Apoptosis
- Pro-B cells
- Proliferation
- Senescence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
- Developmental Neuroscience