1. Human B cell memory
- Author
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Lanzavecchia, Antonio and Sallusto, Federica
- Subjects
- *
IMMUNE response , *B cells , *B cell differentiation , *IMMUNOCOMPETENT cells , *TISSUE-specific antibodies , *MONOCLONAL antibodies - Abstract
Following an immune response two types of differentiated B cells persist in the memory pool: plasma cells, which confer immediate protection by the secretion of specific antibodies; and memory B cells, which confer rapid and enhanced response to secondary challenge. We will review recent advances in understanding the heterogeneity, dynamics, and persistence of human memory B cells and plasma cells as well as new methods to isolate human monoclonal antibodies. These findings offer new insights into the human B cell response, which are relevant for vaccination and therapeutic intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2009
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