Regulation of peripheral B cell maturation.
Although it is clear that the final phases of B cell maturation occur after newly formed B cells exit the bone marrow, the mechanisms underpinning the maturation, selection, and long-term survival of immature peripheral B cells remain poorly understood. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of how B cell receptor (BCR)-mediated signaling events integrate with additional environmental cues to promote the selection and differentiation of immature B cells into functionally distinct subpopulations of mature B cells. We pay particular attention to the role of the Baff cytokine family and the Notch receptor-ligand family and their unique roles in promoting B cell survival and differentiation into follicular and marginal zone B cells.
Thomas
Matthew D
MD
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6082, USA.
Srivastava
Bhaskar
B
Allman
David
D
D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell