B cell markers
Your guide to identifying and studying B cells.
B cells are mediators of the humoral response, or antibody-mediated immunity. Studying this particular cell group can reveal the inner workings of the immune system, illuminating the possible causes behind various immune disorders and cancers.
B cell generation begins in the bone marrow where stem cells give rise to lymphoid cells. Throughout each stage of development, the antibody locus— a site where an antigen interacts with the cell— undergoes genetic recombination specific to the developmental stage of the B cell. Development starts with the pro-B cell, which develops further into the pre-B cell. Maturation in the bone marrow ends with the naïve B cell that expresses the B cell receptor capable of recognizing an antigen. These cells then leave the bone marrow and enter the periphery.
Plasma B cells: a plasma cell is the sentry of the immune system. The naïve B cell circulates throughout the body. When it encounters a unique antigen, the plasma cell takes in the antigen through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Antigenic particles are transferred to the cell surface, loaded onto MHC II molecules and presented to a helper T cell. The binding of the helper T cell to the MHC II-antigen complex activates the B cell. The activated B cell goes through a period of rapid proliferation and somatic hypermutation. Selection occurs for those cells that produce antibodies with a high affinity for that particular antigen. Once terminally differentiated, the plasma B cell only secretes antibodies specific for that antigen and can no longer generate antibodies to other antigens.
Memory B cells: memory cells are held in reserve, in the germinal centers of the lymphatic system, for when the immune system re-encounters a specific antigen. During any repeat exposure the follicular helper T cell causes the memory cell to differentiate into a plasma B cell that has a greater sensitivity to that specific antigen. This jump-starts the immune system to mount a quicker, more powerful response than was possible previously.
B-1 cells: a minor subtype, only about 5% in humans, of self-renewing fetal B cells that act in a similar fashion to plasma cells. B-1 cells are primarily present during fetal and neonatal life.
Marginal zone (MZ) B cells: mature memory B cells that are found only in the marginal zone of the spleen. These cells can be activated through toll-like receptor-ligation and not necessarily through the B cell receptor.
Follicular (FO) B cells: these are mature, but inactive, B cells. This subset of B cells is primarily found in the follicles of the spleen and lymph nodes. Activation of these cells requires the aid of T cells. FO B cells can differentiate into either plasma or memory B cells.
Regulatory B (Breg) cells: Breg cells negatively regulate the strength of the immune response and inflammation by secreting chemical messages called cytokines, such as IL-10. Although these cells make up a small portion of the B cell population (~0.5% in humans), it is thought that loss of functional Breg cells contributes to autoimmune disorders.
CD1d
Alternative names R3G1
Non-peptide antigen presentation to T-cell receptors on NKT cells.
We recommend
Anti-CD1d antibody [EPR22526-9] (ab256344)
Download the human CD markers chart
CD19
Alternative names B-lymphocyte surface antigen B4, MGC12802, CVID3
Regulates B-cell development, activation and differentiation. Coreceptor for BCR, activates signaling pathways.
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CD21
Alternative names Complement receptor type 2, CR2, C3DR, Complement C3d receptor, Epstein-Barr virus receptor
Signal transduction. Receptor for complement components C3Dd and iC3b as well as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein gp350/220..
We recommend
Anti-CD21 antibody [EPR27369-9] (ab315160)
CD20
Alternative names B-lymphocyte surface antigen B1, Bp35, Leukocyte surface antigen Leu-16, MS4A2
B-cell activation and proliferation. Development and differentiation of B-cells into plasma cells.
We recommend
Anti-CD20 antibody [EP459Y] (ab78237)
CD23
Alternative names Low affinity immunoglobulin epsilon Fc receptor, Fc epsilon RII, FCER2, CLEC4J
Low affinity receptor for IgE, ligand for CD19, CD21 and CD81. Essential for B-cell growth and differentiation. In soluble form, functions as mitogenic growth factor.
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CD27
Alternative names TNF receptor superfamily member 7, TNFRSF 7, CD27L receptor, T14, MGC20393, S152, Tp55
Costimulation of B- and T-cell activation upon binding to ligand CD70. Crucial for T-cell memory generation.
We recommend
Anti-CD27 antibody [EPR8569] (ab131254)
CD30
Alternative names TNF receptor superfamily member 8, TNFRSF8, Ki-1 antigen, D1S166E
Regulates lymphocyte proliferation and cell death. Critical role in the pathophysiology of Hodgkin's disease and other CD30+ lymphomas
We recommend
Anti-CD30 antibody [EPR24238-228] (ab271127)
CD38
Alternative names ADP ribosyl cyclase 1, NAD(+) nucleosidase
Regulates intracellular and extracellular NAD homeostasis. Regulates NAD-dependent deacetylases related to aging.
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CD40
Alternative names Bp50, p50
Costimulation of B-cell growth. Differentiation and isotype switching. With CD40L, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease53, regulates sympathetic axon growth, and establishes innervation of certain tissues in developing PNS.
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CD43
Alternative names Leukosialin, Galactoglycoprotein, Leukocyte sialoglycoprotein, SPN, GPL115, LSN
Anti-adhesion. Binds CD45 to mediate adhesion. Important for immune function and may be part of receptor complex for T-cell activation.
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CD45
Alternative names Leukocyte common antigen, L-CA, PTPRC
Critical for B- and T-cell receptor-mediated activation. Also required for thymic selection.
We recommend
CD69
Alternative names Activation inducer molecule, AIM, CLEC2C, EA1
Early activation marker, implicated in the differentiation of T-cells and NKT2s as well as in lymphocyte retention in lymphoid organs.
We recommend
CD95
Alternative names Apoptosis antigen ligand, FASLG, APTL, TNFSF6, APO-1
Induces apoptosis.
We recommend
Anti-Fas antibody [EPR27359-51] (ab307591)
CD138
Alternative names Syndecan, SDC1, SYND1
Modulates processes relevant to tumor progression. Co-receptor for growth factors, angiogenic factors, morphogens and chemokines.
We recommend
CD184
Alternative names CXCR4, HM89, LESTR, WHIM
Involved in AKT signaling cascade, regulates cell migration, hematopoietic progenitor cell homing and acts as co-receptor with CD4 for HIV-1 cell entry. Receptor for CXCL12.
We recommend
IgM
We recommend
Anti-Human IgM antibody [EPR20731] (ab212201)
IgG
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HLA-DR
We recommend
Anti-HLA-DR antibody [EPR3692] (ab215985)
TNFRSF17
We recommend
Browse all TNFRSF17 antibodies
Further reading
Please see the references below for a list of reviews.
References
View 4 references for Further reading
References
Further reading
Bendall, S.C., et al. Single-Cell Trajectory Detection Uncovers Progression and Regulatory Coordination in Human B Cell Development Cell 157 ,714-725 (2014)
Kaminski, D. A., Wei, C., Qian, Y., et al. Advances in human B cell phenotypic profiling Front. Immunol 3 ,1-15 (2012)
Wood, B. Multicolor Immunophenotyping: Human Immune System Hematopoiesis Methods Cell Biol. 75 ,559-576 (2004)
Orlic, D., Fischer, R., Nishikawa, S., et al. Purification and characterization of heterogeneous pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell populations expressing high levels of c-kit receptor Blood 82 ,762-770 (1993)