Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Germinal centers without T cells.

C G de Vinuesa1, M C Cook, J Ball

  • 1Medical Research Council Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|February 9, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Does cyclosporine act in vivo as it does in vitro?

Immunology today·2014
Same author

Selective effects of cyclosporin A on B-cell subpopulations in the mouse.

Immunology today·2014
Same author

A re-evaluation of the role of C3 in B-cell activation.

Immunology today·2014
Same author

The lymphocytes of splenic marginal zones: a distinct B-cell lineage.

Immunology today·2014
Same author

Cell-cycle control in lymphocyte stimulation.

Immunology today·2014
Same author

The effects of cyclosporin A on the immune system.

Immunology today·2014
Same journal

Retraction: In vivo NCL targeting affects breast cancer aggressiveness through miRNA regulation.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Intravesical mesothelin-based CAR T cells targeting MUC16 effectively control bladder cancer in preclinical models.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Flawed translation triggers oncogenic B-T cell communication.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Correction: LCK'ed in: Inborn errors of immunity in LCK reveal how TCR signaling is calibrated.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Mechanobiology of inflammation: Pulling the strings of innate immunity.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Bile acid retention in efferocytic macrophages shapes their inflammatory status during cholangitis.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
See all related articles

High-affinity antibody responses can form germinal centers without T cells by extensive B cell receptor cross-linking. These thymus-independent germinal centers undergo a fail-safe abortion to prevent autoreactivity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Germinal centers are crucial for antibody (Ab) affinity maturation, generating high-efficiency neutralizing Abs against pathogens.
  • B cell receptor mutation and selection within germinal centers refine Ab affinity and specificity.
  • T cell engagement, particularly CD40 signaling, is normally essential for germinal center formation and B cell selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the possibility of inducing germinal center formation in the absence of T cells.
  • To determine the conditions required for thymus-independent germinal center formation.
  • To explore the regulatory mechanisms preventing autoreactivity during T-cell-independent responses.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of germinal centers using (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl) acetyl (NP)-Ficoll in T cell-deficient settings.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Manipulation of B cell receptor (BCR) cross-linking and antigen-specific B cell frequency.
  • Observation of germinal center formation, development, and termination.

    • Main Results:

    • Large germinal centers can be generated in response to NP-Ficoll without T cells, CD40, or CD28 signaling.
    • This T-cell-independent germinal center formation requires extensive BCR cross-linking and a high frequency (≥1 in 1,000) of antigen-specific B cells.
    • These germinal centers exhibit a dramatic abortive phase during the normal selection window for high-affinity B cells.

    Conclusions:

    • Extensive BCR cross-linking can drive thymus-independent germinal center formation.
    • A fail-safe mechanism exists to prevent autoreactivity by aborting T-cell-independent germinal centers.
    • This study reveals novel insights into B cell activation and regulation independent of canonical T cell help.