Stromal niches, plasma cell differentiation and survival.
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.
Moser
Katrin
K
Department for Humoral Immunology, German Arthritis Research Centre, Berlin, Schumannstrasse 21/22, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
Tokoyoda
Koji
K
Radbruch
Andreas
A
MacLennan
Ian
I
Manz
Rudolf A
RA
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*