Premium
The role of notch signaling in the development of a normal B‐cell repertoire
Author(s) -
Cruickshank Mark N,
Ulgiati Daniela
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2009.73
Subject(s) - notch signaling pathway , biology , lymphopoiesis , hes3 signaling axis , microbiology and biotechnology , cell fate determination , signal transduction , marginal zone , b cell , cell signaling , cellular differentiation , notch proteins , cell , immunology , stem cell , genetics , transcription factor , haematopoiesis , antibody , gene
The notch signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved across the animal kingdom and regulates developmental ‘decisions’, such as cell fate commitment, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. In the mammalian immune system, notch signaling events have been extensively studied during T lymphopoiesis, and have a role both during early development, as well as differentiation into discreet effector cell compartments. In contrast, the impact of notch signaling in the B‐cell compartment is less obvious. It is clear that notch signaling is crucial to generate the marginal zone B‐cell population located within the spleen; however, the full effects of notch signaling during normal B‐cell development remain unresolved. Nevertheless, there is compelling evidence that notch signaling regulates multiple stages of B‐cell differentiation and in shaping the antibody repertoire; however, the molecular details have not been elucidated. This review explores the relationship between notch signaling and B‐cell development with attention to how these processes contribute to a normal B‐cell repertoire.