title: A theory of germinal center B cell selection, division, and exit.
abstract: High-affinity antibodies are generated in germinal centers in a process involving mutation and selection of B cells. Information processing in germinal center reactions has been investigated in a number of recent experiments. These have revealed cell migration patterns, asymmetric cell divisions, and cell-cell interaction characteristics, used here to develop a theory of germinal center B cell selection, division, and exit (the LEDA model). According to this model, B cells selected by T follicular helper cells on the basis of successful antigen processing always return to the dark zone for asymmetric division, and acquired antigen is inherited by one daughter cell only. Antigen-retaining B cells differentiate to plasma cells and leave the germinal center through the dark zone. This theory has implications for the functioning of germinal centers because compared to previous models, high-affinity antibodies appear one day earlier and the amount of derived plasma cells is considerably larger.
authors: Department for Systems Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. michael.meyer-hermann@helmholtz-hzi.de
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Meyer-Hermann
authors: Elodie
authors: E
authors: Mohr
authors: Nadége
authors: N
authors: Pelletier
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Gabriel D
authors: GD
authors: Victora
authors: Kai-Michael
authors: KM
authors: Toellner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical