title: B-cell development and differentiation.
abstract: B-cell development is characterized by antigen-independent phases in fetal hematopoietic organs and adult bone marrow, which lead to naive recirculating B cells in the periphery. The diversity of the naive (primary) B-cell repertoire resides in somatic events where minigenes from a large available repertoire are imprecisely rearranged and encode antigen-binding sites of antibodies. Naive B cells expand upon antigenic stimulation, acquire somatic mutations leading to high-affinity antibodies, and switch immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype in peripheral lymphoid organs. This immune reaction leads to the generation of memory B cells, which are long-lived and capable of rapid generation of specific high-affinity antibodies upon recall antigenic stimulation, as well as plasma cells, which constitutively secrete a large amount of antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Duchosal
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell