title: The role of integrins and coreceptors in refining thresholds for B-cell responses.
abstract: Despite compelling evidence that a large proportion of antigens encountered in vivo by B cells are membrane bound, the general view is that B cells are mainly activated by soluble antigens. This notion may have been biased somewhat over the years because the high affinity of the B-cell receptor (BCR) for soluble intact ligands allows efficient B-cell stimulation in vitro. In vivo, however, even soluble antigens are likely to be deposited on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, either by complement or Fc receptors in the form of immune complexes, thus becoming more potent stimulators of B-cell activation. In this framework, the BCR works in a complex environment of integrins and coreceptors, as well as the B-cell cytoskeleton. Over the last few years, we have focused on B-cell membrane-bound antigen recognition. Here, we discuss some of our findings in the context of what is currently known in this exciting new field.
authors.affiliation: Lymphocyte Interaction Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London, UK. facundo.batista@cancer.org.uk
authors.forename: Facundo D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arana
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barral
authors.forename: Yolanda R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Depoil
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckl-Dorna
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleire
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vehlow
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Bebhinn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Treanor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell