title: Towards a comprehensive view of immunoglobulin class switching.
abstract: While it is well established that T cells play a prominent role in regulating Ig isotype switching in response to T-cell-dependent (TD) antigens, the events which control this process in response to antigens that do not recruit antigen-specific T cells (T-cell-independent (TI) antigens) is less clear. In this article, Clifford Snapper and James Mond suggest that the nature of the B-cell activator, in combination with cytokines produced by antigen non-specific cells, including macrophages, NK cells, and polyclonally activated B cells, may play an important role in the process leading to Ig isotype switching in response to TI antigens.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Snapper
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mond
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007134:Immunoglobulin Switch Region; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D016207:Cytokines; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes