B cells.
Author
Summary, in English
B cells are an important component of adaptive immunity. They produce and secrete millions of different antibody molecules, each of which recognizes a different (foreign) antigen. The fact that humans express a very large repertoire of antibodies is due to the complex mechanism of V(D)J recombination of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes as well as other processes including somatic hypermutation, gene conversion and class switching. The B cell receptor (BCR) is an integral membrane protein complex that is composed of two Ig heavy chains, two Ig light chains and two heterodimers of Igalpha and Igbeta. To eliminate foreign antigens, B cells cooperate with other cells of the immune system including macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells. B cell development is a tightly controlled process in which over 75% of the developing cells become apoptotic because of inappropriate immunoglobulin gene rearrangements or recognition of self antigens by Igs. Hence, the majority of B cell-associated disorders are caused by the incorrect function of genes/proteins involved in B cell development.
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Pages
518-523
Publication/Series
International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Volume
37
Issue
3
Links
Document type
Journal article review
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Medical Genetics
Keywords
- B-Cell: genetics
- Antigen
- Receptors
- Immunoglobulins: deficiency
- Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains: genetics
- Immunoglobulin Light Chains: genetics
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains: genetics
- Immunoglobulin G: metabolism
- Immunoglobulin G: genetics
- B-Lymphocytes: immunology
- B-Lymphocytes: metabolism
- B-Cell: metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes: immunology
- VDJ Recombinases: genetics
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1878-5875