The cell biology of T-dependent B cell activation
- 1 September 1989
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- Vol. 67 (9) , 481-489
- https://doi.org/10.1139/o89-078
Abstract
The requirement that CD4+ helper T cells recognize antigen in association with class II Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) encoded molecules constrains T cells to activation through intercellular interaction. The cell biology of the interactions between CD4+ T cells and antigen-presenting cells includes multipoint intermolecular interactions that probably involve aggregation of both polymorphic and monomorphic T cell surface molecules. Such aggregations have been shown in vitro to markedly enhance and, in some cases, induce T cell activation. The production of T-derived lymphokines that have been implicated in B cell activation is dependent on ligation of the T cell receptor for antigen and its associated CD3 signalling complex. T-dependent help for B cell activation is therefore similarly MHC-restricted and involves T–B intercellular interaction. Recent reports that describe antigen-independent B cell activation through coculture with T cells activated by anti-T-cell receptor or anti-CD3 antibodies suggest that cellular interaction with T cells, independent of antigen presentation or lymphokine secretion, induces or triggers B cells to become responsive to T-derived lymphokines, and that this may be an integral component of the physiological, antigen- and MHC-restricted T-dependent B cell activation that leads to antibody production.Key words: T helper, B cell, activation, contact, lymphokines.Keywords
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