The NFκB Signaling System in the Generation of B-cell Subsets: from Germinal Center B Cells to Memory B Cells and Plasma Cells

Overview

Journal Front Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2024 Jan 3

PMID 38169968

Authors

Koushik Roy

Mainak Chakraborty

Ashok Kumar

Asit Kumar Manna

Neeladri Sekhar Roy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Memory B cells and antibody-secreting cells are the two prime effector B cell populations that drive infection- and vaccine-induced long-term antibody-mediated immunity. The antibody-mediated immunity mostly relies on the formation of specialized structures within secondary lymphoid organs, called germinal centers (GCs), that facilitate the interactions between B cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells. Antigen-activated B cells may proliferate and differentiate into GC-independent plasmablasts and memory B cells or differentiate into GC B cells. The GC B cells undergo proliferation coupled to somatic hypermutation of their immunoglobulin genes for antibody affinity maturation. Subsequently, affinity mature GC B cells differentiate into GC-dependent plasma cells and memory B cells. Here, we review how the NFκB signaling system controls B cell proliferation and the generation of GC B cells, plasmablasts/plasma cells, and memory B cells. We also identify and discuss some important unanswered questions in this connection.

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