How are T and B cell activated?
Activation is carried out through a cell-to-cell interaction that occurs between a protein called the CD40 ligand, which appears on the surface of the activated helper T cells, and the CD40 protein on the B-cell surface.
The fate of T cells relies on TCR activation and on the presence and abundance of specific cytokines. Several studies have shown that the concentration of a single cytokine, for instance an interleukin, can influence the outcome of T cell activation and proliferation in vitro.
T and B cells are activated when they recognize small components of antigens, called epitopes, presented by APCs, illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 2. An antigen is a macromolecule that reacts with components of the immune system.
Interleukins. Interleukins are a group of cytokines that act as chemical signals between white blood cells. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) helps immune system cells grow and divide more quickly.
Antigen is presented by the dendritic cell to the activated T cell. This activates the T cell, causing expression of CD40 ligand and cytokine secretion. B cells are then activated by the released cytokines and CD40 ligation. This then activates B cell proliferation and differentiation.
B cell activation is initiated by the binding of antigen to the B cell receptor (BCR) that triggers a number of signaling cascades that ultimately lead to B cell activation.
Some cytokines stimulate the immune system and others slow it down. They can also be made in the laboratory and used to help the body fight cancer, infections, and other diseases. Examples of cytokines are interleukins, interferons, and colony-stimulating factors (filgrastim, sargramostim).
T cells require two signals to be activated. The first signal comes through their antigen receptor, and the second signal comes through CD28 and is typically provided by APCs: monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, or B cells.
T cells are stimulated by the interaction of a clonotypic T-cell receptor (TCR) with MHC–peptide complexes (MHCps) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Since both the TCR and MHCp are integral membrane proteins, their interaction requires contact between the T cell and APC.
Thymopoietin: fuels the production of T-cells and tells the pituitary gland to release hormones. Thymosin and thymulin: help make specialized types of T-cells. Thymic humoral factor: keeps your immune system working properly.
Which cell type activates both B cells and cytotoxic T-cells?
Helper T-cells are a type of immune cell. When they sense an infection, they activate other immune cells to fight it. They may activate cytotoxic T-cells or they may activate B-cells, which produce antibodies. Your helper T-cells are one the most important types of cells involved in your adaptive immune response.
Naïve B cell activation requires antigen recognition by the Ig receptor and additional signals that can come either from a CD4+ T cell (thymus-dependent) or, in some cases, directly from microbial components (thymus-independent).

In cytokine production, naïve T cells produce multiple cytokines upon activation while naïve activated B cells do not. B cells are capable of producing cytokines, but their cytokine production depends on their differentiation state and activation conditions.
Cytokines have important roles in chemically induced tissue damage repair, in cancer development and progression, in the control of cell replication and apoptosis, and in the modulation of immune reactions such as sensitization.
Following this recognition, T lymphocytes release cytokines that activate B cells, and activated B lymphocytes then secrete antibodies specific to the antigens presented by the macrophage.
B cell structure and function
During T cell-dependent activation, B cells absorb the antigen and then present pieces of the antigen on their surface via a major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Helper T cells can then recognize those antigens via the MHC and activate the B cells.
How are B cells activated WITHOUT the help of T cells? Repetitive epitopes allow B cell receptor cross-linking, which leads to cell activation and proliferation.
T cell-dependent activation
Antigens that activate B cells with the help of T-cell are known as T cell-dependent (TD) antigens and include foreign proteins. They are named as such because they are unable to induce a humoral response in organisms that lack T cells.
T helper cells are activated by the interaction between T-cell receptor (TCR) and peptide major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules (pMHC II), which are expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as DCs, mononuclear phagocytes, some endothelial cells, thymic epithelial cells, and B ...
In peripheral lymphoid organs, antigen binding to these receptors, together with costimulatory signals provided by helper T cells, activates the B cells to proliferate and differentiate into either memory cells or antibody-secreting effector cells.
What are the four functions of cytokines?
Function of Cytokines
Cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α are involved in the upregulation of inflammatory reactions. IL-1β released by monocytes and macrophages are released at the time of inflammation, injury, invasion and infection. The chemokines function for the activation and migration of leukocytes.
The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines will lead to activation of immune cells and production as well as the release of further cytokines [17]. Therefore, in the past when the term “cytokine storm” arose, it explained inflammation as a sudden release of cytokines to upregulate an inflammatory process [18].
Cytokines are made by many cell populations, but the predominant producers are helper T cells (Th) and macrophages. Cytokines may be produced in and by peripheral nerve tissue during physiological and pathological processes by resident and recruited macrophages, mast cells, endothelial cells, and Schwann cells.
T Cell Activation
There are three types of signals: TCR, BCR, and cytokine signals. If a cell receives all three signals, it will mature into an effector cell. If a cell only receives one of the signals (TCR or BCR), the cell will become useless.
Primary T cell activation involves the integration of three distinct signals delivered in sequence: (1) anti- gen recognition, (2) costimulation, and (3) cytokine- mediated differentiation and expansion.
In the susceptible host, additional T cells are recruited to sites of inflammation through bystander activation, or by stimulation with self antigens released from inflamed tissues. As the inflammatory process progresses, chronic cytokine production induces profound nondeletional T-cell hyporesponsiveness.
The most potent activators of naive T cells are mature dendritic cells and these are thought to initiate most, perhaps all, T-cell responses in vivo.
In a primary antibody response, naïve helper T cells are activated in a peripheral lymphoid organ by binding to a foreign peptide bound to a class II MHC protein on the surface of a dendritic cell.
T cells can wipe out infected or cancerous cells. They also direct the immune response by helping B lymphocytes to eliminate invading pathogens. B cells create antibodies. B lymphocytes, also called B cells, create a type of protein called an antibody.
Th2 cells mediate these functions by producing various cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-13, and IL-17E (IL-25). These cytokines are responsible for a strong antibody production, eosinophil activation, and inhibition of several macrophage functions, thus providing phagocyte-independent protective responses.
How is a T cell activated?
T cells require two signals to be activated. The first signal comes through their antigen receptor, and the second signal comes through CD28 and is typically provided by APCs: monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, or B cells.
Immature T cells are produced in the bone marrow, but they subsequently migrate to the thymus, where they mature and develop the ability to recognize specific antigens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. B cells, which mature in the bone marrow, are responsible for antibody-mediated immunity.
Each B cell produces a single species of antibody, each with a unique antigen-binding site. When a naïve or memory B cell is activated by antigen (with the aid of a helper T cell), it proliferates and differentiates into an antibody-secreting effector cell.
A type of protein that is made by certain immune and non-immune cells and has an effect on the immune system. Some cytokines stimulate the immune system and others slow it down. They can also be made in the laboratory and used to help the body fight cancer, infections, and other diseases.
Naïve B cell activation requires antigen recognition by the Ig receptor and additional signals that can come either from a CD4+ T cell (thymus-dependent) or, in some cases, directly from microbial components (thymus-independent).
B cells and T cells are the white blood cells of the immune system that are responsible for adaptive immune response in an organism. Both the cells are made in the bone marrow. B cells mature in the bone marrow while the T cells travel to the thymus and mature there.
TH cells activate B cells by their products, cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6, and membrane-bound stimulatory molecules including CD40 ligand. Each cytokine has pleiotropic activity on B cells and other cell types, and acts through a specific receptor.
B cells are activated by two temporally distinct signals, the first provided by antigen binding to the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and the second by T helper cells.
T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. B cells, which mature in the bone marrow, are responsible for antibody-mediated immunity. The cell-mediated response begins when a pathogen is engulfed by an antigen-presenting cell, in this case, a macrophage.