title: Early events in B lymphocyte activation.
abstract: B cell activation can be quantitated indirectly by assaying antibody production or directly by measuring cellular changes that occur immediately after exposure to an activation signal. This unit provides methods for the latter (direct) approach--namely, methods for quantifying early parameters of B cell activation such as increases in intracellular ionized calcium concentration [Ca2+]I, cell size, and MHC class II-antigen expression. These assays are not so much B cell specific as activation specific; as such they are a useful means of providing information about cellular events that are independent of antibody secretion. While the protocols included in this unit have been specifically designed for use with murine B cells, they can also be used with B cells obtained from other species. In addition, the method described here also applies to T cells.
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Subbarao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bondada
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troyer
authors.forename: Ralph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Chelvarajan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D002118:Calcium