T cells-dependent and independent activation of B cells by synthetic oligosaccharides.
(A) Synthetic oligosaccharides bind B-cell receptors (BCRs) but cannot be presented by the MHCII complexes to T-cell receptors (TCRs). B cell uptake of oligosaccharides launches plasma cells development and low-affinity antibody production. (B) Synthetic glycoconjugates are composed of oligosaccharides coupled with a carrier protein. Glycoconjugates internalization and processing by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) enables the presentation of glycopeptides on the MHCII complexes. MHCII binding and activation of TCRs result in memory B cells formation and high affinity IgGs development.