CURR. OPIN. IMMUNOL. 7/2 (1995) 243-247

B-cell stimulation

Armitage R.J., Alderson M.R.

Department of Cellular Immunology, Immunex Res Development Corporation, 51 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101, USA

Abstract
Recent studies have identified CD40 ligand (CD40L) as the critical membrane-expressed molecule responsible for T cell dependent B-cell activation. CD40L co-operates with various cytokines to induce B-cell activation, proliferation and immunoglobulin isotype switching. Some antigens, however, can also stimulate B-cell activation and isotype switching in the absence of CD40L or T cells. Recent studies have suggested that cytokines derived from non-T cells, such as natural killer cells, macrophages and mast cells, are responsible for isotype switching in T cell independent responses.

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