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

I C MacLennan1

  • 1Department of Immunology, University of Birmingham Medical School, England.

Annual Review of Immunology
|January 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Germinal centers are crucial for T cell-dependent antibody responses, involving B cell activation, clonal expansion, and somatic hypermutation. Follicular dendritic cells present antigen to centrocytes, influencing B cell selection and memory formation.

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

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

Immunology today·2014
Same author

Tracking the response of Xid B cells in vivo: TI-2 antigen induces migration and proliferation but Btk is essential for terminal differentiation.

European journal of immunology·2001
Same author

Long-term follow-up of a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of clodronate in multiple myeloma.

British journal of haematology·2001
Same author

Changing responsiveness to chemokines allows medullary plasmablasts to leave lymph nodes.

European journal of immunology·2001
Same author

Intrinsic constraint on plasmablast growth and extrinsic limits of plasma cell survival.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2000
Same author

B-cell memory and the persistence of antibody responses.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2000
Same journal

The Neuroimmune Circuitry of Peripheral Sensory Neuron Subtypes in Chronic Pain.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

The Spectrum of Fibroblast Immune Biology.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

The Molecular Logic of Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Class Switch Recombination.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

Decoding Human T Cell Immunity with Artificial Intelligence and Single-Cell Genomics.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

Immune Niches in Cancer.

Annual review of immunology·2026
Same journal

T Cell Receptor Signaling and Immune Tolerance: From Autoimmunity to Cancer Immunity.

Annual review of immunology·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Germinal centers (GCs) form in B cell follicles during T cell-dependent (TD) antibody responses.
  • B cell activation initiates outside follicles, requiring T cell help and interaction with interdigitating cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the development, cellular dynamics, and functional roles of germinal centers in adaptive immunity.
  • To understand the selection mechanisms and survival pathways of B cells within germinal centers.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of B cell activation and proliferation following immunization.
  • Investigation of B cell interactions with follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and antigen presentation.
  • Study of B cell survival and differentiation pathways, including CD40 signaling.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • GCs are initially oligoclonal, with B blasts undergoing massive expansion and immunoglobulin gene hypermutation.
  • Mature GCs consist of dark zone centroblasts and light zone centrocytes interacting with FDC-bound antigen.
  • Centrocytes undergo apoptosis unless rescued by surface immunoglobulin cross-linking or CD40 signaling, leading to memory cell formation.

Conclusions:

  • Germinal center dynamics are essential for generating high-affinity antibodies and immunological memory.
  • Follicular dendritic cells play a critical role in B cell selection and survival within germinal centers.
  • CD40 signaling is vital for centrocytes to acquire memory characteristics and contribute to long-term antibody production.