title: The pre-B cell receptor checkpoint.
abstract: B lymphocytes are essential antibody-producing cells of the immune system. During the development of progenitor B cells to mature B cells that express a membrane-bound antibody, the B cell receptor (BCR), the cells undergo selection at several checkpoints, which ensures that a diverse antibody repertoire is generated and that the BCRs recognise foreign-, but not self-, antigens. In this review, we consider the pre-BCR checkpoint. Mutations or alterations that affect this checkpoint underpin the development of pre-B cell leukemias, primary immunodeficiency, and possibly, systemic autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. lill.martensson@rheuma.gu.se
authors.forename: Inga-Lill
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Almqvist
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grimsholm
authors.forename: Angelina I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009154:Mutation; D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D054448:Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D054420:Pre-B Cell Receptors