B1-like innate B cells are present in adult human organs in homeostasis

Innate-like B cells produce natural antibodies and include marginal zone (MZ) B cells and B1 cells. B1 cells are well characterized in mice, where they prenatally seed serous cavities and produce regulatory cytokines. Putative B1 cells have been identified in human prenatal organs, but whether they persist into adulthood remains unclear. Here, we identified B1-like cells in the IgM + and IgA + memory compartment across adult human organs. These cells transcriptionally resembled murine and human prenatal B1 cells but not MZ B cells. They expressed canonical murine B1 cell markers, including AHNAK , and spontaneously secreted IgM. B cell receptor sequencing of paired kidney-spleen samples revealed lower diversity and mutation rates in kidney IgM/IgA clones, suggesting spleen-independent seeding. Adult B1-like cells expressed the regulatory cytokine TGFB and had abundant inferred interactions with tissue myeloid cells, which reciprocally expressed B cell prosurvival cytokines. These findings support the presence of B1-like cells across adult human organs in homeostasis.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Immunology
Published
2026-10-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.adz3326
Primary Topic
T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Type
article
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article

B1-like innate B cells are present in adult human organs in homeostasis

Jack L. Martin, Ondřej Suchánek, Nathan Richoz, Krishnaa T. A. Mahbubani et al.
Science Immunology
T-cell and B-cell Immunology
article

B1-like innate B cells are present in adult human organs in homeostasis

Jack L. Martin, Ondřej Suchánek, Nathan Richoz, Krishnaa T. A. Mahbubani, Elena Prigmore, Menna Ruth Clatworthy, Rory Fitzroy, Benjamin J. Stewart
article en

Abstract

Innate-like B cells produce natural antibodies and include marginal zone (MZ) B cells and B1 cells. B1 cells are well characterized in mice, where they prenatally seed serous cavities and produce regulatory cytokines. Putative B1 cells have been identified in human prenatal organs, but whether they persist into adulthood remains unclear. Here, we identified B1-like cells in the IgM + and IgA + memory compartment across adult human organs. These cells transcriptionally resembled murine and human prenatal B1 cells but not MZ B cells. They expressed canonical murine B1 cell markers, including AHNAK , and spontaneously secreted IgM. B cell receptor sequencing of paired kidney-spleen samples revealed lower diversity and mutation rates in kidney IgM/IgA clones, suggesting spleen-independent seeding. Adult B1-like cells expressed the regulatory cytokine TGFB and had abundant inferred interactions with tissue myeloid cells, which reciprocally expressed B cell prosurvival cytokines. These findings support the presence of B1-like cells across adult human organs in homeostasis.

Science ImmunologyVol. 11(124)
University of Cambridge (GB), Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Wellcome Sanger Institute (GB), National Institute for Health and Care Research (GB), Molecular Immunity Unit (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
T-cell and B-cell Immunology
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B1-like innate B cells are present in adult human organs in homeostasis — Jack L. Martin, Ondřej Suchánek, et al. · Science Immunology (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS