title: Perspectives on the nature of BCR-mediated survival signals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Immunology, Max-Planck Institute for Immunobiology, Stübeweg 51, AG Reth, D-79108 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susan Harless
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reth
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D007371:Interferon-gamma