Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes
08:08

Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes

Published on: October 30, 2016

The two waves of B-lymphocyte differentiation

G J Nossal

    Annales D'Immunologie
    |September 1, 1984
    PubMed

    The recombinant DNA revolution has struck cellular immunology with great force, but it has not yet illuminated B-lymphocyte physiology as much as it should have. The problems of the second wave of B-cell differentiation, the post-antigenic wave, will be solved relatively soon, as genetically engineered B-cell-active factors become available. Speculatively, I predict the existence of 3-4 separate factors, each possessing both growth and differentiation activity. The problems of the first set of differentiative processes, those leading to B-lymphocyte genesis, remain frustratingly inaccessible. Just to start an argument, I will speculate that IL-3 will not be involved here, but rather that we must search for non-T-cell-derived (non-lymphokine) factors produced by specialized cells (not macrophages) in the foetal liver or the bone marrow. I issue a challenge to the participants in this forum to reveal how they would go about devising a tissue culture system which at least approximates living bone marrow in its immense potential for B-cell production, because until this is done, the most interesting segment of the whole process will remain a black box.

    More Related Videos

    In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells10:26

    In Vitro Differentiation Model of Human Normal Memory B Cells to Long-lived Plasma Cells

    Published on: January 20, 2019

    Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine B Cell Development08:25

    Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine B Cell Development

    Published on: January 22, 2021

    Related Concept Videos

    Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells01:15

    Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

    Common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are oligopotent cells that can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages. Granulocytes and macrophages are essential for protecting the body against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. They migrate from the bone marrow into the circulating blood to reach specific tissue sites where they differentiate and help in immune surveillance. However, they survive only for a few days and must be continuously made available to the organism to maintain a robust...
    Primary Lymphoid Organs01:16

    Primary Lymphoid Organs

    Primary lymphoid organs are pivotal in the formation, development, and maturation of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that serve as the backbone of our immune system. This crucial function underscores their fundamental role in maintaining our overall health and immunity. The two primary lymphoid organs of prime importance are the red bone marrow and the thymus.
    The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
    Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

    Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

    The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
    The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
    Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

    Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

    The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
    T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

    T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

    T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
    Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
    B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

    B Cell Activation and Differentiation

    The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
    When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...