In situ studies of the primary immune response to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl. II. A common clonal origin for periarteriolar lymphoid sheath-associated foci and germinal centers.
In the genetically restricted response that follows immunization with (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl coupled to protein carriers, two distinct populations of B cells are observed in the spleens of C57BL/6 mice. By 48 h postimmunization, foci of antigen-binding B cells appear along the periphery of the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths. These foci expand to contain large numbers of antibody-forming cells that neither bind the lectin, peanut agglutinin, nor mutate the rearranged immunoglobulin variable region loci. Germinal centers containing peanut agglutinin-positive B cells can be observed by 96-120 h after immunization. Although specific for the immunizing hapten, these B cells do not produce substantial amounts of antibody, but are the population that undergoes somatic hypermutation and affinity-driven selection. Both focus and germinal center populations are pauciclonal, founded, on average, by three or fewer B lymphocytes. Despite the highly specialized roles of the focus (early antibody production) and germinal center (higher affinity memory cells) B cell populations, analysis of VH to D to JH joins in neighboring foci and germinal centers demonstrate that these B cell populations have a common clonal origin.
Jacob
J
J
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
Kelsoe
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002999:Clone Cells; D004247:DNA; D005260:Female; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000276:immunology*; D010648:Phenylacetates; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D006241:Haptens; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D009596:Nitrophenols; D010648:Phenylacetates; C026242:4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl acetic acid; D004247:DNA