Cytokines and chemokines shaping the B-cell compartment

• Published in: Cytokine & growth factor reviews Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 73 - 83
• Main Authors: Acosta-Rodríguez, Eva V, Merino, Maria C, Montes, Carolina L, Motrán, C. Cristina, Gruppi, Adriana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2007
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; B-cell; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Chemokines - immunology; Cytokines - immunology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - immunology; Humans; Humoral response; Immunologic Memory; Lymphocyte compartmentalization; Lymphocyte development; Plasma Cells - immunology; PP; Ab; LN; FDC; fetal liver kinase 2 ligand; B-cell; Ag; CLP; common lymphoid progenitor; marginal zone; LT; lymphotoxin; BM; class switch recombination; TNF; BAFF-R; transmembrane activator; a proliferation-inducing ligand; calcium modulator; GC; TNF-related activation-induced cytokine; APRIL; BAFF receptor; BAFF; Peyer's patches; antibody; CSR; Lymphocyte development; Humoral response; TSLP; and cyclophilin ligand interactor; Lymphocyte compartmentalization; IL-7 R; receptor for IL-7; antigen; germinal center; MZ; bone marrow; BCR; B-cell, receptor; thymic stromal lymphopoietin; Flk-2L; lymph nodes; TACI; tumor necrosis factor; TRANCE; B-cell, activating factor belonging to the TNF family; follicular dendritic cells
• ISSN: 1359-6101
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2007.01.007

Abstract The whole life of a B-cell from a stem cell to a mature plasma cell is governed, among other factors, by cytokines and growth factors in their microenvironment. Remarkable progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of cytokines action on the B-cell compartment was achieved by analysis of gene-targeted mice. The generation of mice deficient for individual cytokines or their receptors has shed light on the in vivo function of cytokines in B-cell responses. This review focuses on the role of cytokines in the development, maturation and differentiation of different B-cell subsets into antibody-secreting cells or memory B-cells.