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How is B cell activated?
Posted November 16, 2023
Antibodies and Proteomics BioconjugationAntibody and Protein LabelingCellular ProcessesImmunohistochemistry (IHC)Physiological Probes
Answer
B cells may be activated via two pathways, one that is dependent on T cells and one that is independent of T cells.
T cell-dependent activation
T cell-dependent activation proceeds via 3 main steps:
- B cells absorb the antigen
- B cells present pieces of the antigen on their surface via an MHC (major histocompatibility complex)
- T cells recognize the antigen pieces via the MHC and activate the B cells
T cell-independent activation
This activation pathway can only proceed if two conditions are met:
- The B cell must receive a signal that an attack or intrusion is taking place
- The B cell must encounter an antigen that it can recognize
When the B cell encounters an antigen that it recognizes, the B cell’s surface receptors bind to the antigen. This activates the B cell, triggering it to divide and differentiate into a specialized plasma cell, which produces antibodies that bind to the antigen, neutralizing it.