Effector and regulatory B cells: modulators of CD4+ T cell immunity

FE Lund, TD Randall - Nature Reviews Immunology, 2010 - nature.com
FE Lund, TD Randall
Nature Reviews Immunology, 2010nature.com
B cells are essential for humoral immunity, but the role that they have in regulating CD4+ T
cell responses remains controversial. However, new data showing that the transient
depletion of B cells potently influences the induction, maintenance and reactivation of CD4+
T cells, with the recent identification of antibody-independent functions of B cells, have
reinvigorated interest in the many roles of B cells in both infectious and autoimmune
diseases. In this Review, we discuss recent data showing how effector and regulatory B cells …
Abstract
B cells are essential for humoral immunity, but the role that they have in regulating CD4+ T cell responses remains controversial. However, new data showing that the transient depletion of B cells potently influences the induction, maintenance and reactivation of CD4+ T cells, with the recent identification of antibody-independent functions of B cells, have reinvigorated interest in the many roles of B cells in both infectious and autoimmune diseases. In this Review, we discuss recent data showing how effector and regulatory B cells modulate CD4+ T cell responses to pathogens and autoantigens.
nature.com