title: Human B lymphocyte function: cell triggering and immunoregulation.
abstract: Several recent developments in human immunobiology have resulted in significant advances in our understanding of the complex processes involved in activation and immunoregulation of function in human B lymphocytes in normal and disease states. The development of antigen-specific systems for the study of B-cell function has allowed a dissection of the dichotomy and overlap between specificity and polyclonality of responses that are so clearly manifested in certain infectious and autoimmune diseases. In addition, the development of antigen-specific T-cell clones has led to a clear-cut understanding of the cellular and genetic requirements for the induction and regulation of human immune responses. Most recently, B-cell hybrids secreting human monoclonal antibodies with predetermined antigenic specificities have been developed from peripheral blood B cells of immunized individuals. Monoclonal antibodies should allow for the availability of unlimited quantities of purified human antibody specific to relevant antigens for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008974:Mollusca; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006433:Hemocyanins