Critical Reviews™ in Immunology

ISSN for PRINT: 1040-8401

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2004, Volume24

Issue 6

102 pages

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.v24.i6

Issue price - $132.00

Reina E. Mebius
VU Medical Center, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Martijn A. Nolte
Immunobiology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratories, London, United Kingdom

Georg Kraal
VU Medical Center, Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The marginal zone of the spleen is a crucial region where blood-borne pathogens are sequestered by macrophages with unique arrays of scavenger molecules. In addition, a special population of B cells, which is capable of rapid activation, resides in this region. Marginal zone B cells and macrophages together form an efficient interplay between innate and adaptive immunity. The developmental pathways that lead to the formation of the marginal zone are described, and the function of the marginal zone is discussed in relation to the function of the spleen as the major blood-filtering organ of the body.

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.v24.i6.40 Download article, 16 pages

Article price - $35.00

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