title: B cells: programmers of CD4 T cell responses.
abstract: B cells are once again gaining prominence as important programmers of CD4 T cell responses. With widespread use of B cell depletion therapy in the clinic, proving effective in treating diseases previously considered T cell-mediated, the time is right for a re-appraisal of the B cell. Though typically considered weak, Th2 driving APC, it is now clear that they are necessary for a robust and long-lived CD4 T cell response in many settings. The sphere of B cell influence extends well beyond that of simply antibody production; antigen presentation, cytokine secretion, costimulation and development of lymphoid tissue architecture are all critical aspects of B cell immunobiology, the absence of which has serious impacts for T cell priming and memory. The aim of this review is to look at non-antibody mediated B cell function and to ask how, where and when do B cells influence the CD4 T cell response?
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK. tom.barr@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Tom A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Mohini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines