Context (archaeology)

Cell biology

Biology

Cell signaling

Receptor

Signal transduction

breakpoint cluster region

Paleontology

Immunology

B cell

Genetics

Antigen

B-cell receptor

Cell

Antibody

Nature Immunology

Over the past several decades, B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-induced signaling pathways have been described in extraordinary molecular detail, mainly from studies of B cell responses to antigens in vitro. BCR signaling has been shown to govern the initiation of transcriptional programs associated with B cell activation and fate decisions, as well as the BCR-dependent processing of antigen and presentation of antigen to T cells. However, although the potential of the BCR to orchestrate B cell behavior was known, there was no clear appreciation of the context in which B cells signal in secondary lymphoid organs in vivo or how that context influences signaling. In this Review, we describe the current view of the cellular consequences of BCR signaling and advances in the understanding of B cell signaling in context in vivo. Pierce and colleagues discuss the cellular consequences of BCR signaling and recent advances in the understanding of B cell signaling in context in vivo.

B cell signaling in context