In: Biology
B cell Generation/Activation/Differentiation
The B-cells represent one of the most prominent and important type of immune cells in the body. These cells are the major cell types of the humoral immune system. The B-cells, also known as white blood cells are not simply generated to give rise to immunity, but the process of their generation and activation is highly orchesterated in nature as discussed below:
Generation: The generation of B-cells takes place in the bone marrow of adults by division of hematopoeitic stem cells or HSCs. These HSCs give rise to many types of cells after division and differentiation, but the major population remains B-cells.
Activation: The naive B-cells generated in the bone marrow are not sufficient to give rise to immunity. Hence, the activation of B-cells is necessary to take place. This activation takes place at the major sites of immune response in the body such as the thymus, lymph nodes, gastric-associated lymphatic patches, mucosa-associated lymphatic patches etc in the body. During activation, the naive B-cells are exposed to the antigenic representatives so that they might get ready for any future encounter of the antigens.
Differentiation: The naive B-cells generated in the bone marrow are differentiated into various other types of B-cells depending upon their function. For example, those B-cells which help the humoral immune system to represent the antigen to the macrophages are differentiated into Helper-B cells. Some of the B-lymphocytes involved in killing or destructing the antigen are differentiated into the killer-B cells. Finally, in order to maintain a memory response, some B-cells are procured and secured to give rise to memory response and are called memory B-cells.
Thus, this suggests that generation, activation and differentiation of B-cells is highly important and very wisely orchesterated process which regulates the humoral immune response.