title: Regulation of B cell proliferation and differentiation by retinoic acid.
abstract: Vitamin A protects against development of infectious diseases, and B cells are important players in this process. Keys to the protective role of retinoic acid (RA) against infections appear to be its ability to enhance antibody responses against T-cell dependent and independent type 2 antigens, as well as to locally stimulate IgA production in mucosal tissues. The elucidation of molecular mechanisms involved in RA-mediated regulation of proliferation and differentiation of B cells not only helps us to understand how RA differentially regulates subsets of B cells, but might also lead to more targeted treatment of selected immune disorders and B cell malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1112, Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ertesvåg
authors.forename: Soheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.forename: Heidi Kiil
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Blomhoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014801:Vitamin A; D014212:Tretinoin