then purified with anti-B220 magnetic beads using the IMag system (BD
Pharmingen). B cells were subsequently stained with anti-IgM-PE,
anti-B220-PerCP or anti-B220-FITC, and anti-CD93/AA4.1-biotin or
anti-CD93/AA4.1-APC (BD Biosciences or Tonbo Biosciences). The biotinylated
antibody was detected with streptavidin-APC (Caltag or BD Biosciences).
Immature (B220+, IgM+, AA4.1+) and pre (B220+, IgM-, AA4.1+) B cells were
sorted on a FACS Aria (Becton Dickinson) or a MoFlo (Cytomation) cell
sorter. Samples were kept at 4° at all times prior to and during the
sort and until stimulation to avoid activating the BCR with the sorting
antibodies (11 (link)). Purified cells were
either harvested immediately or stimulated with 10 μg/ml goat
anti-mouse IgM F(ab’)2 (Jackson ImmunoResearch
Laboratories) for the indicated times at 106 cells/ml in RPMI +
10% FBS. Alternatively, bone marrow B lineage cells were expanded by
culturing for 4–6 days in 10 ng/ml IL-7 (R & D Systems) at 2
× 106 cells/ml and pre and immature B cells sorted as
above.