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B cell Biology: An Overview

  • BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCE (M FRIERI AND PJ BRYCE, SECTION EDITORS)
  • Published:
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Abstract

In this review we summarize recent insights into the development of human B cells primarily by studying immunodeficiencies. Development and differentiation of B cells can be considered as a paradigm for many other developmental processes in cell biology. However, it differs from the development of many other cell types by phases of extremely rapid cell division and by defined series of somatic recombination and mutation events required to assemble and refine the B cell antigen receptors. Both somatic DNA alteration and proliferation phases take place in defined sites but in different organs. Thus, cell migration and timely arrival at defined sites are additional features of B cell development. By comparing experimental mouse models with insights gained from studying defined genetic defects leading to primary immunodeficiencies and hypogammaglobulinemia, we address important features that are characteristic for human B cells. We also summarize recent advances made by developing improved in vitro and in vivo systems allowing the development of human B cells from hematopoietic stem cells. Combined with genetic and functional studies of immunodeficiencies, these models will contribute not only to a better understanding of disease affecting the B lymphocyte compartment, but also to designing better and safer novel B cell-targeted therapies in autoimmunity and allergy.

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Conflict of Interest

This work was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF 01 EO 0803) to Marta Rizzi, the German Cancer research fund through grant 109138 and the DFG through the TRR130 to Hermann Eibel and Helene Kraus; Anne-Kathrin Kienzler was supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre.

Heiko Sic declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with animal subjects performed by any of the authors. With regard to the authors’ research cited in this paper, all procedures were followed in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 and 2008.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Engesserstr. 4, Freiburg, 79108, Germany

    Hermann Eibel, Helene Kraus, Heiko Sic & Marta Rizzi

  2. Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland

    Heiko Sic

  3. Nuffield Department of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Division, University of Oxford and NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK

    Anne-Kathrin Kienzler

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  1. Hermann Eibel
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  2. Helene Kraus
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Correspondence to Hermann Eibel.

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Eibel, H., Kraus, H., Sic, H. et al. B cell Biology: An Overview. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 14, 434 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-014-0434-8

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