title: Reassessing the function of immune-complex retention by follicular dendritic cells.
abstract: The close association of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) and germinal-centre B cells has fostered the idea that B-cell recognition of retained antigen that is presented on the surface of FDCs is important for affinity maturation and memory B-cell development. We argue that the retention of immune complexes is not required for germinal-centre development, affinity maturation and memory B-cell maintenance. Instead, it is probable that FDCs support B-cell proliferation and differentiation in a non-specific manner. Other potential roles of immune complexes retained by FDCs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA. ann.haberman@yale.edu
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Haberman
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shlomchik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin