Mechanism of nitric oxide release by B-1 cells

• Grant number: 05/03392-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Mario Mariano
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Lucatelli Laurindo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

B-1 cells are classified as B-lymphocytes because they rearrange immunoglobulin genes, synthesize IgM and IgD and express characteristic lymphocyte surface molecules (B-220 and CD19). These cells also express macrophage surface markers (CD11b and F4/80). They differentiate in vitro into a mononuclear phagocyte, provisionally named lymphophage. Although they show some characteristics of macrophages, the nitric oxide (NO) production by these cells is different. Results from our laboratory suggest that B-1 cells produce NO constitutively and that this production has no microbicidal function. The aim of this project is to investigate NO production by B-1 cells and characterize the NO synthase responsible for NO production by these cells.