Molecular and cellular dynamics at the early stages of antigen encounter: the B-cell immunological synapse.

ABSTRACT

The recent development and application of sophisticated technology in the study of the initial stages of the B-cell immune response has lead to a tremendous revolution in the field. The use of real-time confocal microscopy, total interference reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and in vitro models has revealed the molecular details of the antigen recognition process by B cells. Moreover, experimental models that allow tracking of antigen in vivo in concert with multiphoton microscopy have provided critical information as to the how, where, and when naïve B cells encounter antigen in vivo. This review focuses on the latest data regarding the early phase of the humoral immune response at molecular and cellular levels.