T-Cell Dependent and Independent B-Cell Activation

This book provides an analysis of the current subdisciplines comprising the study of humoral immune response. The first chapter presents a detailed discussion regarding the experimental and conceptual studies conducted prior to the mid-1970s that have served as a valuable research framework for investigators interested in the process by which B cells are activated following their exposure to antigens. Other chapters focus on topics such as membrane-associated proteins with important functional roles during B cell activation and differentiation; thymus-independent and thymus-dependent activation; mechanisms operative during B-T cell interactions, including the role of B cells as antigen-presenting cells; and the importance of soluble mediators. Additional topics include the regulatory role of T cells during B cell repertoire expression, memory development, tolerance, and autoimmunity. T-Cell Dependent and Independent B-Cell Activation is an important history and reference resource for humoral immune response investigators, as well as advanced graduate and medical students.