title: Replenishing B lymphocytes in health and disease.
abstract: The path from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to functional B lymphocytes has long been appreciated as a basic model of differentiation, but much clinically relevant information has also been obtained. It is now possible to conduct single cell studies with increasingly high resolution, revealing that individual stem and progenitor cells differ from each other with respect to differentiation potential and fates. B lymphopoiesis is now seen as a gradual and unsynchronized process where progenitors eventually become B lineage restricted. Major milestones have been identified, but a precise sequence need not be followed and oscillation between states is possible. It is not yet clear if this versatility has survival value, but information is accumulating about infections and age-related changes.
authors.affiliation: Immunobiology and Cancer Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Qingzhao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimazu
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kincade
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006801:Humans; D038041:Lymphopoiesis