title: B cells as effectors.
abstract: B cells act as immune effectors, primarily through antigen-specific clonal expansion and plasma-cell differentiation. B1 (CD5(+)) B cells and marginal zone B cells dominate T-cell independent humoral responses under the molecular control of activated dendritic cells. Helper T cell-regulated B-cell responses draw on follicular B cells as precursors and rely on qualitatively different patterns of immune synapse formation to regulate B-cell fate. These activities culminate in the germinal center reaction, during which somatic hypermutation and antigen-driven selection produce and preserve high-affinity plasma cells with extended longevity and memory B cells as the sensitized precursors for antigen recall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. mcheyzer@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: McHeyzer-Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology