Memory B cell (MBC) (MBC)

Memory B cells are a specialized, long-lived population of B lymphocytes that develop after an initial encounter with an antigen, typically within the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid organs [1]. Their primary biological function is to provide rapid and robust immunological memory, allowing the immune system to respond more effectively to subsequent exposures of the same pathogen by quickly differentiating into high-affinity antibody-secreting plasma cells [2]. In various pathological conditions, memory B cells can become detrimental; for instance, they are central to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through the production of autoantibodies and the activation of T cells [3]. Furthermore, they are the cellular precursors for several B-cell malignancies, including certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma [4]. Therapeutic strategies targeting memory B cells often involve depletion using monoclonal antibodies against surface markers such as CD20 or CD19, or the use of small molecules to inhibit survival and signaling pathways like the B-cell receptor (BCR) and BAFF-R [5]. While highly effective, these treatments can lead to significant safety concerns, including prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia and a heightened risk of serious infections [6]. Citations: [1] StatPearls: B Cells (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538177/) [2] Nature Reviews Immunology: Memory B cells (https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2017.134) [3] PubMed: Memory B cells in autoimmune disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30104354/) [4] Blood: B-cell memory and lymphoma (https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/112/13/4804/25144/) [5] PubMed: B-cell-targeted therapies (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29147024/) [6] NIH: Safety of B-cell depletion (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5826635/)

Other names

Antigen-experienced B cellCD27+ B cellSwitched memory B cell

Therapeutic strategies primarily involve B-cell depletion via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) targeting surface markers like CD20, or the inhibition of survival signals and intracellular signaling pathways such as the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway.