title: Antigen-specific  immunity. Th cell-dependent B cell responses.
abstract: Helper T cell-regulated B cell responses constitute a major component of the primary immune response to many pathogens. The subsequent development of antigen-specific immune memory is one critical outcome of this primary adaptive immune response. Antigen-specific immunity develops through a series of intercellular information exchanges organized around cognate T cell receptor-peptide/MHC interactions. Here, we discuss these complex molecularevents andtheircellularconsequences in a serial synapsis model of adaptive immunity. Our laboratory has developed strategies to isolate antigen-specific Th cells and B cells to analyze gene expression and cellular function in single responding lymphocytes directly ex vivo. These studies provide insight into the regulation and cellular organization of antigen-specific immune responses in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Immunology, Durham, NC 27705, USA. mchey002@duke.edu
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: McHeyzer-Williams
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McHeyzer-Williams
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanelli Panus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bikah
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pogue-Caley
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Driver
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Eisenbraun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000939:Epitopes