ADAPTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM:

B CELL
HUMORAL
HUMORAL
IMMUNITY
IMMUNITY

POSITIVE
POSITIVE
SELECTION
SELECTION
AND
AND NEGATIVE
NEGATIVE
SELECTION
SELECTION

B
B CELL
CELL
RECEPTOR
(BCR)
(BCR)

ANTIGEN
ANTIGEN
PRESENTING
PRESENTING
CELL
CELL

BONE
BONE MARROW

SYNTHESIS OF B CELL

B CELL DEVELOPMENT

B CELL DEVELOPMENT

BCR enables the cell to bind and, if additional signals are presents, to be
activated by and respond to an epitope on molecules of a soluble antigen.
B cells bind to toxins and digest them to smaller pieces, where the response
ends with descendants of B cell secreting antibodies (via plasma cells).

B CELL SELECTION
POSITIVE

NEGATIVE

B CELL ACTIVATION

T-CELL
T-CELL
INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT
ACTIVATION
ACTIVATION

MEMORY
MEMORY B
B CELL
CELL
ACTIVATION

B CELL ACTIVATION (DEPENDENT)

B cells are activated when antigen binds to receptor on B

cells surface, followed by a co-stimulatory signal, usually

provided by T-helper cells.
Antigens that require co-stimulation by a T-cell to activate
B cell are T-dependent antigens and are usually protein.
In order for T-helper cells to stimulate the B cells, both
must be activated. Requires that the B cell internalize the
antigen, process it, and the present it on the cell surface
bound to a class II HLA molecule.
The HLA-antigen complex is recognized by a receptor on
the surface of the T cell (TCR)

B CELL ACTIVATION (DEPENDENT)

The B cell expresses an activation on its surface (CD40) that

binds to a complementary ligand (CD154) on the surface of

T-helper cells. B cells then will proliferate.
In addition, the T-helper cells will secrete interleukins that will
promote growth and antibody production by the activated B
cells.
T-helper cells normally have been activated by interaction
with a macrophage or DC, but B cells can act as APC as
well.
The B cell can express B7 proteins on its surface which will
bind to CD28 on T-helper cells surface.
Combination of TCR-HLA/antigen binding and B7-CD28
binding will activate the T cells.

MEMORY B CELL ACTIVATION