What B cell memories are made of

Curr Opin Immunol. 2019 Apr:57:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2019.01.003. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Abstract

In many ways, memory B cells represent the ultimate outcome of humoral immunity. Many of these cells express exceptionally high affinity antigen-specific B cell receptors for antigen, and these cells are a critical source of the long-lived plasma cells that secrete protective serum antibodies to protect against secondary exposure to pathogens and other life-threatening antigens. Evidence is now emerging that not all memory B cells are created via the same cellular pathways and molecular events. Similarly, it is becoming clear that different memory B cells can take on different functions, with some producing IgM rather than IgG antibodies upon reactivation, and others preferentially producing plasma cells rather than additional waves of memory B cells. With this review, we discuss the conceptual ides and early studies surrounding early work on B cell memory, then discuss the many pathways and functional attributes of subpopulations of memory B cells and current approaches to characterize these cells directly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin M / metabolism
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell