Title:Unraveling Effector Functions of B Cells During Infection: The Hidden World Beyond Antibody Production
Volume: 12
Issue: 3
Author(s): Beatriz Leon, Andre Ballesteros-Tato, Ravi S. Misra, Wojciech Wojciechowski and Frances E. Lund
Affiliation:
Keywords:
B lymphocytes, antigen presentation, infectious disease, cytokines, antibody, immune protection, infectious agents, immune responses, B cell depletion therapy, sustaining effector, cytokine-producing, immunopathology, autoimmune patients, pathogenesis, clinical remission
Abstract: Antibodies made by B cells are critically important for immune protection to a variety of infectious agents.
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that B cells do more than make antibodies and that B cells can both enhance
and suppress immune responses. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that B cells modulate cellular immune responses
by antibody dependent and independent mechanisms. Although we have a good understanding of the roles played by antibody-
secreting effector B cells during immune responses, we know very little about the Ab independent “effector” functions
of B cells in either health or disease. Given the recent data suggesting that B cells may contribute to autoimmune
disease pathogenesis via an antibody independent mechanism and the increasing use of B cell depletion therapy in autoimmune
patients, investigators are beginning to reassess the multiple roles for B cells during immune responses. In this article,
we review data describing how B cells mediate protection to pathogens independently of antibody production. In
particular, we will focus on the role that B cells play in facilitating dendritic cell and T cell interactions in lymph nodes,
the importance of antigen-presenting B cells in sustaining effector T cell and T follicular helper responses to pathogens
and the relevance of cytokine-producing effector and regulatory B cells in immune responses.
