Kinetics of monocytoid B lymphocytes in localized inflammatory lesions induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice

Immunohistochemistry was used to study the kinetics of B lymphocytes (B- lys) in the early stages of the localized inflammatory response induced in SMA mice by the subcutaneous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At the injection sites, medium-sized B-lys formed early inflammatory lesions with neutrophils and activated macrophages on days 1 and 2. The B-lys were morphologically similar to monocytes, but were not stained with Mac1 antibody. Remarkably the B-lys showed the phenotypes of B220⁺, IgM⁺, IgD (slight to negative), Ly-1^- and CD23^- by double immunohistochemical staining. The B-lys were also positive for alkaline phosphatase. Consequently the B-lys could be identified as monocytoid B-lys or marginal zone B-lys. Plasmacytic B-lys and plasma cells were first observed on days 3 and 4, but no lymphoid follicles were found at the injection sites. In the inguinal lymph nodes, the same B-lys responses were mainly induced in the paracortical lesions (T cell areas) preceding the formation of activated germinal centers (GC). These findings suggested that the B-lys, induced by injections of LPS, matured into plasma cells in the localized inflammatory lesions independent of GC, and that they were different from follicular B-lys.