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The B-lymphocyte differentiation from committed B-cell progenitors to antibody-secreting cells was discussed. B-cell progenitors derived from hematopoietic stem cells undergo the rearrangement of immunoglobulin(Ig) gene. The earliest cells as B-cell precursors have cytoplasmic Is(μ chain). The entire Is molecule is expressed on the surface after synthesis of L chain. The resting B cells(Go stage) stimulated by binding antigen via Ig-receptors are activated(G₁ stage) and followed by proliferation(S stage), coupled with further selection(affinity maturation. class switch). The production of antibody against a particular antigen depends on the activation of B cells with surface Is capable of reacting with that antigen. This process does not occur in isolation but is controlled by helper and suppressor T cells and antigen presenting cells(APC). The mechanism of T cell-dependent B-cell response for production of antibody is largely explained by the cell to cell cooperation and soluble helper factors of T cells. 1) The antigen specific B cells and helper T cells are linked by Is-receptors, leading to the delivery of helper signals to the B cells. 2) Helper T cells recognize the processed antigen-derived peptides with the MHC class II molecules(la antigen) and is stimulated to secrete B-cell proliferation and differentiation factors which activate B cells of different antigenic specificity. The two models are shown currently 1) At low antigen concentration, only the antigen-specific B cell binds antigen and presents antigen-derived peptides with la molecules to helper T cells, which are stimulated to secrete cytokines(IL-4, IL-5, etc.) and 2) At high antigen concentration, antigen-derived peptides are presented by specific B cells, by B cells that endocytose the antigens, as well as by APC Cytokines secreted from helper T cells also lead to the activation of B cells and even bystander B cells in the on- vironmment and differentiate them into antibody-secreting plasma cells.
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