New insights into the functions of B cells.
Organ transplants between genetically different individuals elicit powerful immune responses that invariably cause rejection in the absence of immune suppression. Among the immune responses elicited by organ allografts, B-cell responses causing antibody-mediated rejection are one of the most vexing. However, recent advances in the field indicate that B cells and antibodies' contribution to immunity extends well beyond the traditional functions ascribed to antibodies. Here we review "non-humoral" functions of B cells and the implications of these functions to transplantation.
Transplantation Biology Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Samuel J
SJ
Balin
Jeffrey L
JL
Platt
Marilia
M
Cascalho
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000906:Antibodies