Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Irina Grigorova
University of Michigan Medical School, USA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Cell Immunol
B-cell��?s exposure to antigen in the absence of T-cell help should lead to tolerance according to Matzinger��?s postulates. This view is supported by multiple in vivo studies of B-cells that are continuously exposed to self-antigens. However, whether transient exposure to antigens may be sufficient for B-cell death or tolerance in vivo is unclear. In addition, whether transient acquisition of antigen can trigger productive B-cell response when T-cell help is available is not known. Our recent studies suggest that in the presence of T-cell help, single transient antigen acquisition is sufficient to get B-cells into the germinal centers and to induce memory and plasma cell responses. At the same time, B-cells transiently exposed to monovalent or moderately multivalent antigens do not undergo apoptosis or become anergic in vivo in the absence of T-cell help. After a brief period of activation these B-cells return to quiescence and can be efficiently recruited into B-cell responses upon reacquisition of antigen and T-cell help. Overall, these studies suggest that duration of B-cell exposure to foreign antigens or self-antigens may be one of the major factors determining their fate in vivo.