Dynamics of B cells in germinal centres

Abstract

Humoral immunity depends on the germinal centre (GC) reaction during which somatically mutated high-affinity memory B cells and plasma cells are generated. Recent studies have uncovered crucial cues that are required for the formation and the maintenance of GCs and for the selection of high-affinity antibody mutants. In addition, it is now clear that these events are promoted by the dynamic movements of cells within and between GCs. These findings have resolved the complexities of the GC reaction in greater detail than ever before. This Review focuses on these recent advances and discusses their implications for the establishment of humoral immunity.

T follicular helper expansion and humoral-mediated rejection are independent of the HVEM/BTLA pathway

“…14 Somatic hypermutation and selection of B cells that express immunoglobulin variants with improved antigen affinity, along with the process of immunoglobulin class switching that occurs in allo-specific activated B cells requires cognate CD4 T help during the germinal centre (GC) reaction. 15,16 Upon antigenic stimulation, CD4 T cells upregulate CXCR5 and first migrate to the interfollicular area that is in close proximity to the T-cell/ B-cell border through attraction to the follicle stromal cell-derived CXCL13 chemokine. CD4 T cells then further migrate to the follicle to prime follicular B cells and form the GC reaction.…”

Effect of antipyretic analgesics on immune responses to vaccination

“…70 Several additional transcriptional factors are involved in the early initiation phase of the germinal center that leads to the development of antibody-secreting plasma and memory B cells. 71 These include: B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6), 72 Interferon-regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), 73 Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), 74 B cell-specific transcription coactivator (OCA-B/OBF/Bob-1) 75 and cell-cycle regulator c-Myc (MYC). 76 Considering that the antipyretics effect on antibody response is present only at vaccination time, inhibition of these transcriptional factors could theoretically be implicated; however at this time there is no literature evidence to support this.…”

Tertiary Lymphoid Structures Associate with Tumour Stage in Urothelial Bladder Cancer

“…The canonical lymphoid aggregates arise during ontogeny whereas the ectopic aggregates arise due to factors such as chronic inflammation and persistent antigen exposure. These extra-nodal sites of adaptive immunity are most common in autoimmune (rheumatoid arthritis) or inflammatory conditions [10,11].…”

“…In secondary lymphoid organs, germinal centers (GC) are specialized areas where B cells (primary mediators of humoral immune response) diversify themselves, post antigenic challenge, in order to achieve highest affinity towards an antigen [9]. Memory B cells and antigen specific high affinity antibody producing plasma cells are thus generated.…”