Abstract
The ability of B lymphocytes to capture, process and present antigens to T cells is requisite for normal humoral immune responses and contributes to the pathogenesis of both B- and T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. B lymphocytes preferentially capture polyvalent antigens, which are capable of eliciting a coordinated series of cellular responses that ensure that even low-affinity antigens are productively captured. Polyvalency not only accelerates transit through the endocytic pathway but also induces a reorganization of the antigen-processing compartment, activates degradative pathways and determines how antigenic peptides are presented to T cells. Similar changes are observed in maturing dendritic cells, indicating that some cellular responses to foreign antigens are conserved.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 382-387 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Current Opinion in Immunology |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- APC
- B-cell antigen receptor
- B-cell linker protein
- BCR
- BLNK
- IMB
- Ii
- MHC-class-II-containing endosome compartment
- MIIC
- TLR
- antigen-presenting cell
- intraluminal multivesicular body
- invariant chain
- toll-like receptor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology