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Memory B cells
Book chapter

Memory B cells

Benedicta B. Mensah, Alexander Stewart and Deborah Dunn-Walters
Encyclopedia of Immunobiology, pp.V3:477-V3:485
01/01/2025

Abstract

Affinity maturation Antigen challenge Antigen-specific cells B cell Class Switch Recombination (CSR) Extrafollicular pathways Germinal Center (GC) Immune memory Long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) Memory cells Somatic hypermutation (SHM)
When exposed to an antigen challenge, B cells enhance their antibody production and refine their antigen recognition to mount a quicker and more effective response upon future encounters with the same antigen. B cell memory also involves the generation of long-lived plasma cells producing antibodies and memory B cells primed for future antigen responses. Memory B cells exhibit diversity influenced by the antigen type and environment, affecting immunoglobulin heavy chain isotype, cell longevity, and recall response types. This chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding human memory B cell diversity and highlights current challenges in reconciling mouse and human evidence with different surface markers.

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