Germinal center reutilization by newly activated B cells

J Exp Med. 2009 Dec 21;206(13):2907-14. doi: 10.1084/jem.20091225. Epub 2009 Nov 23.

Abstract

Germinal centers (GCs) are specialized structures in which B lymphocytes undergo clonal expansion, class switch recombination, somatic hypermutation, and affinity maturation. Although these structures were previously thought to contain a limited number of isolated B cell clones, recent in vivo imaging studies revealed that they are in fact dynamic and appear to be open to their environment. We demonstrate that B cells can colonize heterologous GCs. Invasion of primary GCs after subsequent immunization is most efficient when T cell help is shared by the two immune responses; however, it also occurs when the immune responses are entirely unrelated. We conclude that GCs are dynamic anatomical structures that can be reutilized by newly activated B cells during immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Hemocyanins / immunology
  • Immunization
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin