Role of complement receptors CD21/CD35 in B lymphocyte activation and survival

In summary, the complement system has evolved an important function in regulation of humoral immunity to T-dependent antigens. Covalent attachment of activated C3 to antigen alters its fate by enhancing uptake on the surface of FDC via CD21/CD35; and by enhancing signal transduction via the B cell coreceptor CD21/CD19/Tapa-1. In the absence of complement receptors CD21/CD35 or C3 ligand, naive B cells bearing low affinity BCR fail to effectively survive within the lymphoid follicle following contact with antigen and death is mediated by a Fas-dependent mechanism. Alternatively, B cells sufficiently activated to initiate a GC reaction fail to survive in the absence of CD21-CD21L interaction.