title: B cell antigen receptor signaling 101.
abstract: All cells continually survey their environment and make decisions based on cues encountered. This requires specific receptors that detect such cues, then transduce signals that initiate the appropriate responses. B lymphocytes provide an archetypal model for such 'adaptive' cellular responses, where signals transmitted by the B cell Ag-receptor (BCR) influence not only cellular selection, maturation, and survival, but are imperative in generating the ultimate effector function of B cells, i.e. antibody production. While other extracellular stimuli and their cognate receptor signals can also influence B cell development, BCR-mediated signals and the way in which they are integrated and regulated are paramount in defining the cell's physiological fate.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Department of Immunology, University of Colorado Health Science Center and National Jewish Medical Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dal Porto
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gauld
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Merrell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Aimee E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pugh-Bernard
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cambier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell