Effect of thymus cell injections on germinal center formation in lymphoid tissues of nude (thymusless) mice

Responses of single germinal-center B cells in T-cell-dependent microculture.

“…GC B cells have been shown to bind Ag (7) and present Ag obtained in vivo to Ag-specific T-cell hybridomas, stimulating synthesis of interleukin 2 by the T cells (8). These observations, the virtual absence of GC in athymic mice (9,10), and the observation that T-cell-independent Ags cause B-cell proliferation with only very late and smaller GC formation (11,12) suggest that GCs are associated with T cell-B cell collaboration.…”

Human Follicular Dendritic Cells Express Prostacyclin Synthase: A Novel Mechanism to Control T Cell Numbers in the Germinal Center

“…Accumulated evidence suggests that FDCs play central roles in B cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation into memory cells (1,(7)(8)(9). FDCs also appear to interact with another cellular component of the GC, T cells, which are found much less frequently than B cells (10). T cells stimulate proliferation of FDC-like cells (11).…”

Reaction of germinal centers in the T-cell-independent response to the bacterial polysaccharide alpha(1-->6)dextran.

“…Early studies by Thorbecke and coworkers (19) indicated that in nu/nu mice, development of GCs was dependent upon the adoptive transfer of thymocytes. Our data do not preclude the involvement ofany T cells in the development ofthe anti-DEX GCs.…”

“…Isotype-specific ELISA-spot assays were used to quantify the number of DEX antibody-secreting cells (ASCs). The assays were carried out as described (19) with the following modifications: 96-well microtiter plates were coated with dextran N279 at 1 jig/ml. Bound anti-DEX antibodies were revealed with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antibodies specific for IgM, IgG, or IgA.…”