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Is rapid proliferation in B centroblasts linked to somatic mutation in memory B cell clones?
J Zhang1, I C MacLennan, Y J Liu
1Department of Immunology, The Medical School, Birmingham, U.K.
Immunology Letters
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Centroblasts, crucial for antibody responses, have a rapid cell cycle of 6-7 hours. This fast proliferation drives B cell mutation accumulation and selection of high-affinity antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- B cells accumulate mutations in immunoglobulin genes during T cell-dependent (TD) antibody responses, increasing antibody affinity.
- Somatic mutation accumulation in B cells is linked to the presence of germinal centers.
- A high rate of base pair substitution in immunoglobulin variable (v) genes may occur in centroblasts within germinal centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cell cycle kinetics of centroblasts.
- To determine if rapid proliferation of centroblasts contributes to antibody affinity maturation.
Main Methods:
- The study provides evidence on the cell cycle time of centroblasts.
Main Results:
- Centroblasts exhibit a remarkably short cell cycle time, estimated at 6 to 7 hours.
- This rapid proliferation rate is proposed to explain clonal expansion in early TD antibody responses.
Conclusions:
- Rapid centroblast proliferation is a key factor in the efficiency of high-affinity antibody mutant selection.
- The short cell cycle time of centroblasts likely underpins the effectiveness of somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation in adaptive immunity.