期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：2003
卷号：100
期号：2
页码：556-561
DOI：10.1073/pnas.0236979100
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Hex is a homeobox gene that is expressed in all stages of B cell development except plasma cells. We studied lymphocyte development in the absence of Hex by using the RAG1-deficient blastocyst complementation system because homozygous disruption of Hex is embryonic lethal. Hex-/-;RAG1-/- chimeric mice had severely reduced numbers of mature B cells, pre-B cells, and CD5+ B cells with a striking 15-fold increase in the percentage of B220-CD19+ cells in the bone marrow. Hex-/-;RAG1-/- chimeric mice failed to generate IgG antibodies to T cell-independent antigens, although their serum IgM levels and antibody responses to T cell-dependent antigens were intact. Therefore, Hex is necessary for B cell development and function and its absence results in a dramatic increase in B220-CD19+ cells.
