Temporal Tracking of Plasma Cellsin vivoUsing J-chain CreERT2 Reporter System

Abstract

AbstractPlasma cells (PCs) are essential for humoral immunity, as they are responsible for the production of antibodies and contribute to immunological memory. Despite their importance, differentiating between long-lived and short-lived PCsin vivoremains a challenge due to a lack of specific markers to distinguish these populations. Addressing this gap, our study introduces a novel J-chain CreERT2 GFP allele (IgJCreERT2) for precise genetic studies of PCs. This model takes advantage of PC-restricted expression of the J-chain gene, enabling temporal and cell-specific tracking of PCs utilizing a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase. Ourin vitroandin vivovalidation studies of the inducible Cre allele confirmed the fidelity and utility of this model and demonstrated the model’s ability to trace the long-lived PC populationin vivofollowing immunization. The IgJCreERT2model allowed for detailed analysis of surface marker expression on PCs, revealing insights into PC heterogeneity and characteristics. Our findings not only validate the IgJCreERT2mouse as a reliable tool for studying PCs but also facilitate the investigation of PC dynamics and longevity, particularly in the context of humoral immunity and vaccine responses. This model represents a significant advancement for the in-depth study of PCs in health and disease, offering a new avenue for the exploration of PC biology and immunological memory.