B cell development: signal transduction by antigen receptors and their surrogates.
Constitutive signal transduction by B cell antigen-receptors and/or their surrogates appears to be critical for progression through multiple developmental checkpoints and for survival of mature B cells in the periphery. Antigen-induced signaling via the B cell receptor can compensate for defects in constitutive signaling and initiates receptor editing, apoptosis and anergy in normal mice - purging the repertoire of autoreactive cells. Thus development and survival of mature B cells seem to require continuous receptor signaling of a defined amplitude.
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D051925:CD79 Antigens; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051379:Mice; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072377:Syk Kinase; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000502:physiology