MadSci Network: Immunology
Query:

Re: how did antibodies orgernte

Date: Tue Dec 11 11:27:09 2001
Posted By: Brian Edelson, MD/PhD Student, WUMS
Area of science: Immunology
ID: 1006256093.Im
Message:

I'm not exactly sure what you are refering to in your question, but i'll 
do the best I can.

B cells are the white blood cells in the body responsible for making 
antibodies.  Basically, B cells in the body have a preformed specificity 
for a particular foreign material (the foreign material, often a protein, 
is called the antigen).  When a single B cell develops in the bone marrow, 
it acquirs this intrinsic specificity for a particular antigen randomly.  
The body has never encountered this antigen before, yet the B cell has 
been programmed randomly to have the ability to make an antibody molecule 
which will recognize this antigen molecule.  The B cell will just sit 
around forever waiting and not secreting any antibody molecules into the 
blood, until the body happens to encounter the particular antigen molecule 
for which a given B cell is specific.  At this point, the B cell will 
secrete lots of antibody against this antigen.

There is a deeper level answer regarding the molecular mechanism whereby a 
B cell rearranges its DNA to be programmed to have a particular 
specificity for antigen, although i can't tell from your question if this 
is what you are asking.  This process is called V(D)J recombination, and I 
suggest looking in a textbook of immunology at your local library.

Hope this helps.


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