Ca2+ Signaling in B Cells

Abstract

An increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration is one of the major initial steps in B-cell activation that occurs within minutes after antigen receptor (BCR) engagement. In recent years, significant advances have been made in characterizing molecular mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling in lymphocytes, although the majority of work was done on T cells. This mini-review discusses several underexplored areas of Ca2+ signaling in B cells: (1) Ca2+ signaling in immune synapse and multifaceted Ca2+ responses within a single cell, (2) source of Ca2+ involved in Ca2+-dependent protein phosphorylation events and the role of store-operated influx, (3) role of BCR coreceptors in Ca2+ signaling, and (4) Ca2+ signaling and maintenance of B-cell tolerance and clinical significance of Ca2+ signaling alterations.