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Molecular mechanisms guiding late stages of B‐cell development
Author(s) -
Rolink Antonius G.,
Andersson Jan,
Melchers Fritz
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.0101.x
Subject(s) - biology , spleen , bone marrow , b cell , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , b 1 cell , antibody , immune system , t cell , antigen presenting cell
Summary: In mice, large numbers of immature B cells are continuously produced in the bone marrow. To enter the pools of mature B cells, these immature B cells have to pass two checkpoints. First, B cells have to migrate from the bone marrow to the spleen. The second checkpoint involves the immature B cells differentiating to mature B cells within the spleen. As the net result of this selection and maturation, only a fraction of the newly produced B cells enters the mature B‐cell pool. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that operate at these two checkpoints are described and discussed.