Abstract
Since their discovery in the 60s´, B cells have been extensively studied because of their unique and critical role in immunoglobulin (Ig) production. In addition, B cells contribute to other aspects of the immune response via antigen presentation to T cells and cytokine production. Despite the intensive study of B cells, its classification in different subsets based on surface markers remained controversial. Historically, B cells in the periphery (i.e., blood, secondary lymphoid organs) were classified according to their maturation stage and the Ig isotype expressed in 5 populations: transitional, naive, non-switched memory, switched memory and plasma cells. Importantly, this classification does not reflect precisely functional aspects (i.e., metabolism, cell signaling, tissue of origin), and in some cases the markers used to identify B-cell subsets were faulty. For example, CD27 was long considered a classical marker of memory B cells and associated with somatic hypermutation (SHM), however some memory B cells lack CD27 expression.1 In this context, B-cell biologists were demanding to update the criteria used to classify B cells and the inclusion of novel functionality markers, which has been possible with the advent of single cell multi-omics.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.