Fibroblasts enhance the in vitro survival of human memory and naïve B cells by maintaining intracellular levels of glutathione.

To gain insight into the mechanism of memory B cell survival, we cultured highly purified subpopulations of tonsillar B cells with tonsillar fibroblasts. The fibroblasts greatly enhanced the survival of memory and naïve B cells but did not delay the rapid apoptosis of germinal center B cells. B cell activation was not observed during the period of culture, as shown by the absence of activation markers and of cycling cells.