Gene interaction network regulates plasma cell differentiation

Effective humoral immunity depends on B cells, plasma cells and follicular helper T cells (TFH) and secreted high-affinity antibodies. The differentiation of mature B cell into plasma cells is ultimately hardwired in a regulatory network of transcription factors. This circuitry is responding to extracellular stimuli, which leads to production of higher-affinity antibodies after germinal centre (GC) reaction. The understanding of the transcriptional regulation of GCs and the initiation of plasma cell differentiation is becoming increasingly clear. It is evident that transcriptional repressor Blimp-1 can drive the plasma cell differentiation, but the initiation of plasma cell differentiation in GCs is likely coupled to the loss of B cell characteristics maintained by transcription factors Pax5 and Bcl6.