BIOL 3120 Chapter 9&10: B and T-cell development
19 Nov 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The primary function of mature b cells is to secrete antibodies that protect the host against pathogens. Developing b cells must solve the problem of creating a repertoire of receptors capable of recognizing an extensive array of antigens, while ensuring that self-reactive b cells are eliminated. B-cell development is almost complete by the time the b cell leaves the bone marrow. Immature b-cells are released into the periphery where they complete their development in the spleen. Since the bone marrow appears relatively late in development (doesn"t exist at fertilization), the whole process of blood-cell generation must shift location several times before moving into its final home bone marrow. Developing b cells in the fetal liver differ in important ways from their counterparts in adult bone marrow because the fetal liver environment is different than the environment in the bone marrow (receive different signals). The fetal liver is the primary site of b-cell generation in the fetus and it produces.
