title: Central role of CD40 and its ligand in B lymphocyte responses to T-dependent antigens.
abstract: In order to mount an effective antibody response to soluble and certain other types of antigens, B cells need help from T cells. Recently, an important receptor-ligand pair has been identified as essential for successful cognate interaction between these two classes of lymphocytes. CD40 was first identified as a receptor-like molecule on B cells which when ligated by antibody could deliver signals to prime for growth, differentiation, or survival. Later its counterstructure--termed CD40 ligand (CD40L)--was discovered to be an inducible type II glycoprotein of helper T cells. In this review, the central role of the CD40-CD40L interaction in the various phases of the B cell response to T-dependent antigens is discussed drawing from both in vitro and in vivo studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical School, Birmingham, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holder
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pound
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009154:Mutation; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D023201:CD40 Ligand