PRODUCTION OF CYTOKINES BY HUMAN B-CELLS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

For many years, the only function attributed to B cells was that of an tibody production. However, activated B cells can also serve as potent antigen-presenting cells for CD4(+) T cells and can produce a large n umber of cytokines. Here, Vito Pistoia reviews the spectrum of cytokin es produced by human B cells and discusses their biological relevance in health and disease.