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Mechanism of antigen-driven selection in germinal centres

Nature volume 342, pages 929–931 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

THE high affinity of antibodies produced during responses to T-cell-dependent antigens is associated with somatic mutation in the variable region of the immunoglobulin1–4. Indirect evidence indicates that: (1) this arises by a process of hypermutation, acting selectively on rearranged immunoglobulin variable-region genes, which is activated in centroblasts within germinal centres; and (2) centrocytes, the progeny of centroblasts, undergo selection on the basis of their ability to receive a positive signal from antigen5. We have now performed experiments analysing this selection process, and found that, on culture, centrocytes isolated from human tonsil kill themselves within a few hours by apoptosis6. This is not a feature of other tonsillar B cells. Centrocytes can be prevented from entering apoptosis if they are activated both through their receptors for antigen and a surface glycoprotein recognized by CD40 antibodies7,8.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, University of Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham, B15 2TJ, UK

    Y-J. Liu, D. E. Joshua, J. Gordon & I. C. M. MacLennan

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Birmingham Medical School, Birmingham, B15 2TJ, UK

    G. T. Williams & C. A. Smith

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  1. Y-J. Liu
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  2. D. E. Joshua
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  3. G. T. Williams
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  4. C. A. Smith
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  5. J. Gordon
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  6. I. C. M. MacLennan
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Liu, YJ., Joshua, D., Williams, G. et al. Mechanism of antigen-driven selection in germinal centres. Nature 342, 929–931 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/342929a0

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