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.