Structural characterization of gangliosides from resting and endotoxin-stimulated murine B lymphocytes

A structural analysis of resting and endotoxin-stimulated murine B lymphocytes reveals that GD1b species are the only gangliosides occurring in B cells. B cells express gangliosides along the GM1a pathway, whereas T lymphosite-expressed gangliosides occur along the GM1b pathway. The gangliosides are structurally heterogeneous due to acetyl or glycolyl N-substitution of sialic acids, glycoside linkage sites, long-chain base differences and ceramic area C24 and C16 fatty acids.