title: B-cell stimulation.
abstract: Recent studies have identified CD40 ligand (CD40L) as the critical membrane-expressed molecule responsible for T cell dependent B-cell activation. CD40L co-operates with various cytokines to induce B-cell activation, proliferation, and immunoglobulin isotype switching. Some antigens, however, can also stimulate B-cell activation and isotype switching in the absence of CD40L or T cells. Recent studies have suggested that cytokines derived from non-T cells, such as natural killer cells, macrophages and mast cells, are responsible for isotype switching in T cell independent responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Immunology, Immunex Research and Development Corporation, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*