Chapter 13

B Lymphocytes Mediated Humo

ral Immunity
Effector
function of
antibodies
1. TD-Ag recognition by B cells and
two signals for B cells activation
(1). Signal 1 for B
cells activation
B cell coreceptor
complex
(CD19/CD21/CD81) (CD21)
(2). Signal 2 for B cells activation
(3). Interaction between
T and B cells in
B cells activation
2. B cell proliferation and differentiation
3. B cell maturation in germinal ce
nter

A number of events that are chara

cteristic of helper T cell-dependent a
ntibody response, including affinity m
aturation, isotype switching, and the
generation of memory B cells, occur pr
imarily in the germinal centers of lym
phoid follicles.
(1). Somatic hypermutation
In proliferating germinal center
B cells, the Ig V genes undergo poin
t mutations at an extremely high rat
e.

Because somatic mutation occurs r

andomly, it will generate a few cell
s with receptors of higher affinity
and many cells with receptors of unc
hanged or lower affinity for a parti
cular antigen.
(2). Affinity maturation
Affinity maturation is the proces
s that leads to increased affinity of
antibodies for a particular antigen a
s a T-dependent humoral response prog
resses, and is the result of somatic
mutation of Ig genes followed by sele
ctive survival of the B cells produci
ng the antibodies with the highest af
finities.
B cell selection and
affinity maturation in
germinal center
An overview of affinity maturation
(3). Isotype (Class) switching
In response to CD40 engagemen
t and cytokines, some of the progeny
of activated IgM- and IgD-expressing
B cells undergo the process of heavy
chain isotype (class) switching, lead
ing to the production of antibodies w
ith heavy chains of different classes
, such as γ, α, and ε.
Ig heavy chain isotype switching
(4) B cell differentiation into antibod
y-secreting plasma cells
Some of the progeny of the B c
ells that have proliferated in respon
se to antigen and T help cell differe
ntiate into antibody-secreting plasma
cells.
(5) Generation of memory B cells
Some of the antigen-activated B
cells emerging from germinal centers
acquire the ability to survive for lo
ng periods, apparently without antige
nic stimulation. These are memory B c
ells, capable of mounting rapid respo
nses to subsequent introduction of an
tigen.
The germinal center reaction in a lymph node
4. B cell responses to T cell-indep
endent antigens
 TI-1 and TI-2 Antigen
TI-1
TI-1 抗原
Antigen TI-2 Antigen
TI-2 抗原

LPS Polymeric antigens

BCR BCR
LPS
receptor
Signal B cell Signal
transduction transduction
5. Primary and secondary responses
differ significantly

Primary responses result from the ac

tivation of previously unstimulated n
aïve B cells, whereas secondary respon
ses are due to stimulation of expande
d clones of memory B cells.
The End of Chapter 13