Talks about: the role of CD40 and its ligand, gp39, as central players in the regulation of B cell growth and differentiation; Prolactin, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I as full-fledged immunological growth and differentiation factors; and more.

The key features include: the role of CD40 and its ligand, gp39, as central players in the regulation of B cell growth and differentiation; Prolactin, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I as full-fledged immunological growth and differentiation factors; transcription factors of functionally mutant mice are highly relevant to understanding hemopoiesis and B cell genesis in vivo HIV infection of xenotransplanted mice compared with natural HIV and SIV infections; the expression and role of cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis and in seronegative arthritis; the functions of the surrogate light chain in B cell development; mechanisms that regulate cytokine activity and the generation and function of sCR as cytokine anatogonists and/or cytokine "carriers" in vivo; and, potential transducing molecules involved in signaling processes and which mark the difference between signaling through IL-2R and IL-4R.

H. Karasuyama, A. Rolink, and F. Melchers, Surrogate Light Chain in B Cell Development. L. Clark, T.M. Foy, and R.J. Noelle, CD40 and Its Ligand. D.E. Mosier, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Human Cells Transplanted to Severe Combined Immunodeficient Mice. C. Martinez-A., A. Rebollo, and J. Gomez, Lessons from Immunologicale Biochemical, and Molecular Pathways of the Activation Mediated by IL-2 and IL-4. D. Opstelten, B Lymphocyte Development and Transcription Regulation in Vivo. R. Fernandez-Botran, P.M. Chilton, and Y. Ma, Soluble Cytokine Receptors: Their Roles in Immunoregulatione Disease and Therapy. L.B. Ivashkiv, Cytokine Expression and Cell Activation in Inflammatory Arthritis. R. Kooijman, E.L. Hooghe-Peters, and R. Hooghe, Prolactine Growth Hormonee and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in the Immune System. Chapter References. Subject Index.