Perspectives on the nature of BCR-mediated survival signals.
In the June 11 issue of Cell, Kraus et al. (2004) show, through conditional mutagenesis, that mature B cells have a drastically reduced life span in the absence of normal B cell antigen receptor (BCR) surface expression or tonic signal transduction. These studies support a role for signal transduction downstream of the BCR, rather than continued surface expression per se for the maintenance and survival of mature B cells in the periphery. Further, these studies exclude transient INF(gamma)-induced activation as a prerequisite to apoptosis in receptor-less cells.
Smith
Susan Harless
SH
Department of Molecular Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Stübeweg 51, AG Reth, D-79108 Freiburg, Germany.
Reth
Michael
M
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D007371:Interferon-gamma