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New insights into the functions of B cells
Author(s) -
Balin Samuel J.,
Platt Jeffrey L.,
Cascalho Marilia
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1399-3046
pISSN - 1397-3142
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2007.00867.x
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , antibody , medicine , immunity , transplantation , organ transplantation , humoral immunity , b cell , surgery
Organ transplants between genetically different individuals elicit powerful immune responses that invariably cause rejection in the absence of immune suppression. Among the immune responses elicited by organ allografts, B‐cell responses causing antibody‐mediated rejection are one of the most vexing. However, recent advances in the field indicate that B cells and antibodies’ contribution to immunity extends well beyond the traditional functions ascribed to antibodies. Here we review “non‐humoral” functions of B cells and the implications of these functions to transplantation.