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TO B OR NOT TO B
Little is known about the factors that control a critical step in antibody production, the differentiation of mature activated B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells. This week (Nature, Vol. 412, No. 6844, 19 Jul 2001), Laurie H. Glimcher of Harvard School of Public Health, and colleagues, show that a protein called ‘XBP-1’ seems to precipitate B-cell differentiation. The immune system has two lines of defence against foreign invaders. T cells kill virally infected or malignant cells, and antibodies are released into the bloodstream by plasma cells, which are specialized B cells that no longer divide. Antibodies are involved in many autoimmune diseases, so studies of autoimmunity would benefit greatly from a better understanding of plasma cells. "The discovery of a protein required for the production of plasma cells will give immunologists a better idea of how they develop," says Kathryn Calame of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in an accompanying News and Views article. CONTACT: Laurie H Glimcher
tel +1 617 432 0622
e-mail lglimche@hsph.harvard.edu Kathryn Calame
tel +1 212 305 3504
e-mail klc1@columbia.edu
(C) Nature press release.
Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza
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