- B cell activation takes place upon encountering an antigen. The
antigen binds to B cell receptor.
- B cell activation takes place by two ways : (1) T helper cells
(Th) dependent & (2) T helper cells independent.
- In TH dependent pathway, B cell directly contacts T
helper cells after a B cell encounters T (thymus) dependent
antigen. This binding leads to T cell activation which then in turn
secretes cytokines . The cytokines act as activation signal for B
cell.
- The B cell then differentiates into memory B cells and plasma
cells. The plasma cells secrete antibody isotypes . (This is called
class switching ).
- In T h independent pathway, thymus independent antigens
directly activate B cell upon encounter. The antigen is
internalized, and digested. The antigenic peptide is expressed on B
cell surface with class II MHC. It results into formation of IgM
(but no memory cells ).
Note:
B cell activation takes place in secondary lymphoid organs (
spleen, lymph nodes ).