If you have trained in the field of immunology, it may not be uncommon to emerge with a self-characterisation as either a “B cell immunologist” or a “T cell immunologist.” Historically, this distinction arose from years of specialisation and the degrees of separation between B cell and T cell biology research. Approaches to therapeutic design have often mirrored that, with either a B cell or T cell-specific approach.
However, as a broader understanding of immune networks and coordinated immune responses has emerged, this line is increasingly blurred. Advanced technologies like flow cytometry enable deep interrogation of both B and T cell populations. As a result, for those working in drug development and clinical research, it is more important than ever to have a comprehensive understanding of both B and T cell biology and a knowledge of how to leverage advanced technology to distinguish and resolve these populations.
In this article, we consider how flow cytometry supports an advanced understanding of B and T cell phenotype and function.
B Cells, At The Forefront of Immunology
B cells have a diverse and multifunctional role in immune response. While traditionally associated with antibody production, multifunctional B cells are also important cytokine producers and serve as professional antigen-presenting cells.
In humans, B cell genesis begins in the bone marrow, where hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) differentiate first into immature naive B cells and then into transitional B cells. Exiting the bone marrow, transitional B cells move into the periphery and develop into mature naive B cells. Following recognition of a cognate antigen, the mature B cells are activated, proliferate and further differentiate into memory B cells, short-lived plasmablasts, or long-lived plasma cells. These cells can rapidly activate, proliferate and produce antibodies and cytokines. In healthy individuals, the activation is induced by foreign antigens from infection or protective vaccination. The subsequent production of antibodies protects against pathogens and are key for vaccine-mediated immune protection.
