Human B lymphocyte function: cell triggering and immunoregulation.

Several recent developments in human immunobiology have resulted in significant advances in our understanding of the complex processes involved in activation and immunoregulation of function in human B lymphocytes in normal and disease states. The development of antigen-specific systems for the study of B-cell function has allowed a dissection of the dichotomy and overlap between specificity and polyclonality of responses that are so clearly manifested in certain infectious and autoimmune diseases. In addition, the development of antigen-specific T-cell clones has led to a clear-cut understanding of the cellular and genetic requirements for the induction and regulation of human immune responses. Most recently, B-cell hybrids secreting human monoclonal antibodies with predetermined antigenic specificities have been developed from peripheral blood B cells of immunized individuals. Monoclonal antibodies should allow for the availability of unlimited quantities of purified human antibody specific to relevant antigens for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.