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The pre‐B cell receptor checkpoint
Author(s) -
Mårtensson Inga-Lill,
Almqvist Nina,
Grimsholm Ola,
Bernardi Angelina I.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.04.057
Subject(s) - b cell receptor , breakpoint cluster region , antibody , antigen , b cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , progenitor cell , immunology , cancer research , receptor , stem cell , genetics
B lymphocytes are essential antibody‐producing cells of the immune system. During the development of progenitor B cells to mature B cells that express a membrane‐bound antibody, the B cell receptor (BCR), the cells undergo selection at several checkpoints, which ensures that a diverse antibody repertoire is generated and that the BCRs recognise foreign‐, but not self‐, antigens. In this review, we consider the pre‐BCR checkpoint. Mutations or alterations that affect this checkpoint underpin the development of pre‐B cell leukemias, primary immunodeficiency, and possibly, systemic autoimmunity.