Unraveling Effector Functions of B Cells During Infection: The Hidden World Beyond Antibody Production

Beatriz      Leon; Andre      Ballesteros-Tato; Ravi      S. Misra; Wojciech      Wojciechowski; Frances      E. Lund

Abstract

Antibodies made by B cells are critically important for immune protection to a variety of infectious agents. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that B cells do more than make antibodies and that B cells can both enhance and suppress immune responses. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that B cells modulate cellular immune responses by antibody dependent and independent mechanisms. Although we have a good understanding of the roles played by antibody- secreting effector B cells during immune responses, we know very little about the Ab independent “effector” functions of B cells in either health or disease. Given the recent data suggesting that B cells may contribute to autoimmune disease pathogenesis via an antibody independent mechanism and the increasing use of B cell depletion therapy in autoimmune patients, investigators are beginning to reassess the multiple roles for B cells during immune responses. In this article, we review data describing how B cells mediate protection to pathogens independently of antibody production. In particular, we will focus on the role that B cells play in facilitating dendritic cell and T cell interactions in lymph nodes, the importance of antigen-presenting B cells in sustaining effector T cell and T follicular helper responses to pathogens and the relevance of cytokine-producing effector and regulatory B cells in immune responses.

Keywords: B lymphocytes, antigen presentation, infectious disease, cytokines, antibody, immune protection, infectious agents, immune responses, B cell depletion therapy, sustaining effector, cytokine-producing, immunopathology, autoimmune patients, pathogenesis, clinical remission