title: Clonal and cellular dynamics in germinal centers.
abstract: Germinal centers (GCs) are the site of antibody affinity maturation, a process that involves complex clonal and cellular dynamics. Selection of B cells bearing higher-affinity immunoglobulins proceeds via a stereotyped pattern whereby B cells migrate cyclically between the GC's two anatomical compartments. This process occurs in a timeframe that is well suited to analysis by intravital microscopy, and much has been learned in recent years by use of these techniques. On a longer time scale, the diversity of B cell clones and variants within individual GCs is also thought to change as affinity maturation progresses; however, our understanding of clonal dynamics in individual GCs is limited. We discuss recent progress in the elucidation of clonal and cellular dynamics patterns.
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, USA. Electronic address: victora@wi.mit.edu.
authors.forename: Gabriel D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Victora
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, USA.
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mesin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins