CD21 and CD24 Co-expression: A Translational Model between Mouse and Human

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis are B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases that afflict millions of people worldwide. B cell-targeted therapies for these diseases result in variable clinical outcomes. Thus, a need exists to better understand the dynamics of human B cell production and function. The mouse model has provided a foundation for understanding the mechanisms involved in human B cell development and autoimmune disease. However, differences in mouse and human B cells are not fully understood. Our work shows that the co-expression of CD21 and CD24, determined by 7-color flow cytometry, can be used to demarcate developmental subsets of B cells. A comparison of analogous B cell subsets in mice and humans showed that the B cell subsets distribution differs between the species suggesting differences exist in mechanisms that regulate and maintain the specific B cell. This work provides a foundation for understanding human B cell development using the mouse model.