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Updated: Jan 28, 2026
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Evaluation of T Follicular Helper Cells and Germinal Center Response During Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice
Published on: June 27, 2020
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Human Germinal Center B Cells Differ from Naïve and Memory B Cells in CD40 Expression and CD40L-Induced Signaling
Kanutte Huse1,2, Cara E Wogsland3, Hannah G Polikowsky3,4
1Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Summary
Germinal center (GC) B cells show higher CD40 expression but lower NFκB signaling upon CD40 engagement compared to naive and memory B cells, revealing distinct cell-intrinsic responses in human GC reactions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Signaling pathways
Background:
- CD40 signaling is crucial for germinal center (GC) formation and function in B cells.
- The precise kinetics and magnitude of CD40 signaling during human GC reactions are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare CD40 expression and signaling responses across different differentiation stages of mature human B cells.
- To investigate cell-intrinsic differences in CD40-mediated signaling in naive, GC, and memory B cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mass cytometry and phospho-specific flow cytometry to analyze protein expression and CD40L-induced signaling.
- Employed viSNE and Marker Enrichment Modeling (MEM) for quantifying protein expression signatures in B cell subsets.
Main Results:
- GC B cells exhibited higher CD40 protein expression than naive and memory B cells.
- Despite higher CD40 expression, GC B cells showed reduced NFκB p65 phosphorylation within 30 minutes of CD40L activation.
- GC B cells initially had higher IκBα levels, which were rapidly degraded to levels comparable to other B cell subsets post-activation.
Conclusions:
- Human GC B cells possess distinct CD40 signaling characteristics compared to naive and memory B cells.
- These cell-intrinsic differences in signaling contribute to the unique functions of B cells within the germinal center microenvironment.
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