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Learning Objectives: B Cells

Reading Assignment: Chapters 2 and 4, The Immune System by Parham

Supplementary Materials: Antigen, Antibody, Antibody Genes, B Cell Development, ToolBox

B Cells are the lymphocytes that are activated by specific antigen to become antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B cells. This unit describes antibody structure and function, the genes that encode antibody H and L chains, and the gene recombination and signaling steps required to produce each antigen-specific B cell from a lymphoid progenitor.

The Learning Objectives pages list the key concepts you should know from each section of the course. You are also expected to know the words bolded in the text. In addition to The Immune System by Parham, study aids include online Tutorials with study questions and a ToolBox containing a Glossary, Reading and Writing About Immunology, and information about immunological techniques.

When you finish B Cells, you should be able to

Draw and label an IgG molecule, including the specific names for the H and L chains, the V and C regions, the Fab and Fc regions, the antigen-binding sites, and the locations of the interchain disulfide bonds. Explain the relationship of the hypervariable regions (CDR) to the antigen-combining region and discuss the possible consequences of amino acid changes in either the framework or CDR to the antigen-binding affinity of the antibody.
Define and identify antigens, epitopes, and haptens.
Describe the production of monoclonal antibodies and their usefulness.
Sketch the genomes for Kappa chain and H chain. Explain which segments are required to encode each protein.
Explain the process of somatic recombination for kappa chain and H chain. Include the names of the enzymes required for this process and explain how this process generates B cell antigen-recognition diversity.
Describe how a single B cell can have both IgD and IgM receptors with the same antigen-combining specificity but different Fc regions.
Discuss how isotype switching by a B cell following antigen stimulation is similar to and different from somatic recombination and alternative mRNA splicing.
List the steps in B cell development. Include the Ig proteins produced at each stage and explain how only non self-specific B cells with functional membrane Ig emerge from the bone marrow.
Describe the B cell receptor for antigen (BCR).
Summarize the maturation of B cells into plasma cells, including their location(s) during this process.
Apply this information to a clinical case - be able to explain the benefits of antibody diversity in pathogen recognition.

http://microvet.arizona.edu/Courses/MIC419web/LOBcells.html
Written by Janet M. Decker, PhD jdecker@u.arizona.edu
Last modified June 9, 2003