title: Stromal niches, plasma cell differentiation and survival.
abstract: Contacts made with other cells and stroma have a major impact on proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration and immunoglobulin class switching of plasma cell precursors as well as on the lifespan of the antibody-secreting cells. Induction of tissue-specific chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules directs migratory plasma cell precursors to tissues close to those in which the original immune stimulation occurred. This mechanism focuses the production of specific antibodies within a particular type of tissue, thus providing a means for the most efficient protection against tissue-specific pathogens. Relocation does not apply to long-lived plasma cells responsible for sustained titers of high-affinity systemic antibody. These are formed in germinal centers and migrate to specific niches in the bone marrow that support their further differentiation and long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department for Humoral Immunology, German Arthritis Research Centre, Berlin, Schumannstrasse 21/22, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokoyoda
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radbruch
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: MacLennan
authors.forename: Rudolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Manz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018448:Models, Immunological; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*