The pre-B-cell receptor: selector of fitting immunoglobulin heavy chains for the B-cell repertoire.
In this Opinion article, I address the role of the pre-B-cell receptor (pre-BCR) in the development of antigen-specific B cells in terms of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) variable-region repertoire selection, precursor B-cell differentiation and proliferation, and IgH allelic exclusion. Comparisons with the role of the pre-T-cell receptor (pre-TCR) in T-cell development raise provocative questions. Why do B- and T-cell lineages both use a surrogate chain - the surrogate light chain and the pre-TCR alpha-chain, respectively - as a step to develop their repertoires of antigen-recognizing cells? What are the functions of the pre-BCR and pre-TCR in lymphocyte differentiation and antigen-receptor allelic exclusion? This article, together with the accompanying article by Harald von Boehmer, hopes to answer some of these questions.
Melchers
Fritz
F
Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Campus Charité Mitte, Schumannstrasse 21-22, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. melchers@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000502:physiology
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta