Sheepish B cells: evidence for antigen-independent antibody diversification in humans and mice.
Antibody diversity is first generated by rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes during B cell development in the bone marrow, and later by antigen-driven diversification in germinal centers (GCs). New data in humans and mice now identify specific B cell populations that may have undergone antigen-independent hypermutation outside GCs.
Tarlinton
David
D
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. tarlinton@wehi.edu.au
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity
D000906:Antibodies; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell