Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
09:29
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
Signalling crosstalk in B cells: managing worth and need
1284 John Morgan Building, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 36th and Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. cancro@mail.med.upenn.edu
Nature Reviews. Immunology
|August 26, 2009
Summary
B cell receptor (BCR) and B cell-activating factor receptor (BAFFR) signaling are crucial for B cell survival. Crosstalk between BCR and BAFFR pathways integrates selective and homeostatic signals, with BCR generating a limiting substrate for BAFFR signaling.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- B cell receptor (BCR) and B cell-activating factor receptor (BAFFR) signaling are essential for B cell survival.
- BCR provides cell-intrinsic selection signals, while BAFFR responds to extrinsic homeostatic demands.
- Integration mechanisms likely exist to reconcile these distinct signaling inputs.
Approach:
- This opinion article reviews recent evidence on the interdependence of BCR and BAFFR signaling pathways.
- Focuses on the biochemical crosstalk mediating signal integration.
Key Points:
- BCR and BAFFR signaling pathways are interdependent for maintaining B cell survival.
- Crosstalk between downstream pathways integrates cell-intrinsic (BCR) and cell-extrinsic (BAFFR) signals.
- BCR signaling generates a limiting substrate essential for effective BAFFR signal propagation.
Conclusions:
- The interdependence of BCR and BAFFR signaling is mediated by biochemical crosstalk.
- This crosstalk ensures B cell survival by integrating selection and homeostatic signals.
Related Concept Videos
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
01:22Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity.
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...