title: The role of B cells and humoral immunity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a major public health burden. It is generally thought that while B cell- and antibody-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens, the primary control of intracellular microbes derives from cellular immune mechanisms. Studies on the immune regulatory mechanisms during infection with M. tuberculosis, a facultative intracellular organism, has established the importance of cell-mediated immunity in host defense during tuberculous infection. Emerging evidence suggest a role for B cell and humoral immunity in the control of intracellular pathogens, including obligatory species, through interactions with the cell-mediated immune compartment. Recent studies have shown that B cells and antibodies can significantly impact on the development of immune responses to the tubercle bacillus. In this review, we present experimental evidence supporting the notion that the importance of humoral and cellular immunity in host defense may not be entirely determined by the niche of the pathogen. A comprehensive approach that examines both humoral and cellular immunity could lead to better understanding of the immune response to M. tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. Electronic address: john.chan@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Simren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Sushma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bharrhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Achkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casadevall
authors.affiliation: Departments of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: JoAnne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D017452:Receptors, IgG
keywords: Antibodies; B cells; FcγR; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Tuberculosis