Cutting edge: germinal centers can be induced in the absence of T cells.
Immunization of mice containing mutations that inactivate the TCR Cbeta and Cdelta genes with the T cell-independent (TI) type 2 Ag (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl-Ficoll induces clusters of peanut agglutinin-binding B cells in the spleen. These clusters are histologically indistinguishable from germinal centers (GCs) typical of T cell-dependent immune responses. They are located in follicles, and contain mature follicular dendritic cells, immune complex deposits, and B cells that display the phenotypic qualities of conventional GC B cells. However, the kinetics of this TI GC response differ from T cell-dependent GC responses in being rapidly induced and of short duration. Moreover, the Ab V genes expressed in TI GCs have not undergone somatic hypermutation. Therefore, T cells may be required for B cell differentiation processes associated with the intermediate and latter stages of the GC reaction, but they are dispensable for the induction and initial development of this response.
Lentz
V M
VM
Kimmel Cancer Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Manser
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin