Homeostatic control of B lymphocyte subsets

Lymphocyte homeostasis poses a multi-faceted biological puzzle, because steady pre-immune populations must be maintained at an acceptable steady state to yield effective protection, despite stringent selective events during their generation. In addition, activated, memory and both short- and long-term effectors must be governed by independent homeostatic mechanisms. Finally, advancing age is accompanied by substantial changes that impact the dynamics and behavior of these pools, leading to cumulative homeostatic perturbations and compensation. Our laboratory has focused on the over-arching role of BLyS family ligands and receptors in these processes. These studies have led to a conceptual framework within which distinct homeostatic niches are specified by BLyS receptor signatures, which define the BLyS family ligands that can afford survival. The cues for establishing these receptor signatures, as well as the downstream survival mechanisms involved, are integrated with cell extrinsic inputs via cross talk among downstream mediators. A refined understanding of these relationships should yield insight into the selection and maintenance of B cell subsets, as well as an appreciation of how homeostatic mechanisms may contribute to immunosenescence.