Triple check for antigen specificity of B cells during germinal centre reactions.
Somatic hypermutation of the immunoglobulin variable genes during germinal reactions might permit the expansion of B-cell clones with unwanted (e.g. autoreactive) specificity. Here, Ernst Lindhout and colleagues propose three antigen-specific checkpoints that ensure the appropriate antigen specificity of activated B cells is maintained by regulating the activation, selection and further differentiation of B cells.
Lindhout
E
E
Dept of Cell Biology and Histology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. C.degroot@amc.uva.nl
Koopman
G
G
Pals
S T
ST
de Groot
C
C
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation
D000941:Antigens