title: B cell helper assays.
abstract: Activation, proliferation and differentiation of naïve B lymphocytes into memory B cells and plasma cells requires engagement of the B cell receptor (BCR) coupled to T-cell help (1, 2). T cells deliver help in cognate fashion when they are activated upon recognition of specific MHC-peptide complexes presented by B cells. T cells can also deliver help in a non-cognate or bystander fashion, when they do not find specific MHC-peptide complexes on B cells and are activated by alternative mechanisms. T-cell dependent activation of B cells can be studied in vitro by experimental models called "B cell helper assays" that are based on the co-culture of B cells with activated T cells. These assays allow to decipher the molecular bases for productive T-dependent B cell responses. We show here examples of B cell helper assays in vitro, which can be reproduced with any subset of T lymphocytes that displays the appropriate helper signals.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare-INGM, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abrignani
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tonti
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casorati
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dellabona
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D002999:Clone Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology