scholarly journals Germinal Centers without T Cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 191 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola García de Vinuesa ◽  
Matthew C. Cook ◽  
Jennifer Ball ◽  
Marion Drew ◽  
Yvonne Sunners ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Safe Mechanism ◽  
Germinal Center Formation

Germinal centers are critical for affinity maturation of antibody (Ab) responses. This process allows the production of high-efficiency neutralizing Ab that protects against virus infection and bacterial exotoxins. In germinal centers, responding B cells selectively mutate the genes that encode their receptors for antigen. This process can change Ab affinity and specificity. The mutated cells that produce high-affinity Ab are selected to become Ab-forming or memory B cells, whereas cells that have lost affinity or acquired autoreactivity are eliminated. Normally, T cells are critical for germinal center formation and subsequent B cell selection. Both processes involve engagement of CD40 on B cells by T cells. This report describes how high-affinity B cells can be induced to form large germinal centers in response to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl) acetyl (NP)-Ficoll in the absence of T cells or signaling through CD40 or CD28. This requires extensive cross-linking of the B cell receptors, and a frequency of antigen-specific B cells of at least 1 in 1,000. These germinal centers abort dramatically at the time when mutated high-affinity B cells are normally selected by T cells. Thus, there is a fail-safe mechanism against autoreactivity, even in the event of thymus-independent germinal center formation.

scholarly journals Antigen recognition strength regulates the choice between extrafollicular plasma cell and germinal center B cell differentiation

2006 ◽  
Vol 203 (4) ◽  
pp. 1081-1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didrik Paus ◽  
Tri Giang Phan ◽  
Tyani D. Chan ◽  
Sandra Gardam ◽  
Antony Basten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Plasma Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
B Cell Differentiation ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Germinal Center B Cell

B cells responding to T-dependent antigen either differentiate rapidly into extrafollicular plasma cells or enter germinal centers and undergo somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. However, the physiological cues that direct B cell differentiation down one pathway versus the other are unknown. Here we show that the strength of the initial interaction between B cell receptor (BCR) and antigen is a primary determinant of this decision. B cells expressing a defined BCR specificity for hen egg lysozyme (HEL) were challenged with sheep red blood cell conjugates of a series of recombinant mutant HEL proteins engineered to bind this BCR over a 10,000-fold affinity range. Decreasing either initial BCR affinity or antigen density was found to selectively remove the extrafollicular plasma cell response but leave the germinal center response intact. Moreover, analysis of competing B cells revealed that high affinity specificities are more prevalent in the extrafollicular plasma cell versus the germinal center B cell response. Thus, the effectiveness of early T-dependent antibody responses is optimized by preferentially steering B cells reactive against either high affinity or abundant epitopes toward extrafollicular plasma cell differentiation. Conversely, responding clones with weaker antigen reactivity are primarily directed to germinal centers where they undergo affinity maturation.

scholarly journals Positive Selection in the Light Zone of Germinal Centers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinako Nakagawa ◽  
Dinis Pedro Calado
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Positive Selection ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
High Affinity

Germinal centers (GCs) are essential sites for the production of high-affinity antibody secreting plasma cells (PCs) and memory-B cells (MBCs), which form the framework of vaccination. Affinity maturation and permissive selection in GCs are key for the production of PCs and MBCs, respectively. For these purposes, GCs positively select “fit” cells in the light zone of the GC and instructs them for one of three known B cell fates: PCs, MBCs and persistent GC-B cells as dark zone entrants. In this review, we provide an overview of the positive selection process and discuss its mechanisms and how B cell fates are instructed.

scholarly journals CD4+T Cells Promote Antibody Production but Not Sustained Affinity Maturation during Borrelia burgdorferi Infection

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Elsner ◽  
Christine J. Hastey ◽  
Nicole Baumgarth
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Affinity

CD4 T cells are crucial for enhancing B cell-mediated immunity, supporting the induction of high-affinity, class-switched antibody responses, long-lived plasma cells, and memory B cells. Previous studies showed that the immune response toBorrelia burgdorferiappears to lack robust T-dependent B cell responses, as neither long-lived plasma cells nor memory B cells form for months after infection, and nonswitched IgM antibodies are produced continuously during this chronic disease. These data prompted us to evaluate the induction and functionality ofB. burgdorferiinfection-induced CD4 TFHcells. We report that CD4 T cells were effectively primed and TFHcells induced afterB. burgdorferiinfection. These CD4 T cells contributed to the control ofB. burgdorferiburden and supported the induction ofB. burgdorferi-specific IgG responses. However, while affinity maturation of antibodies against a prototypic T-dependentB. burgdorferiprotein, Arthritis-related protein (Arp), were initiated, these increases were reversed later, coinciding with the previously observed involution of germinal centers. The cessation of affinity maturation was not due to the appearance of inhibitory or exhausted CD4 T cells or a strong induction of regulatory T cells.In vitroT-B cocultures demonstrated that T cells isolated fromB. burgdorferi-infected but notB. burgdorferi-immunized mice supported the rapid differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells rather than continued proliferation, mirroring the induction of rapid short-lived instead of long-lived T-dependent antibody responsesin vivo. The data further suggest thatB. burgdorferiinfection drives the humoral response away from protective, high-affinity, and long-lived antibody responses and toward the rapid induction of strongly induced, short-lived antibodies of limited efficacy.

scholarly journals B cell function in mice transgenic for mCTLA4-H gamma 1: lack of germinal centers correlated with poor affinity maturation and class switching despite normal priming of CD4+ T cells.

1994 ◽  
Vol 179 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Lane ◽  
C Burdet ◽  
S Hubele ◽  
D Scheidegger ◽  
U Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Class Switching ◽  
T Cell Help ◽  
Germinal Center Formation

This report outlines the B cell phenotype of transgenic mice that overexpresses the mouse CTLA-4-human gamma 1 (mCTLA4-H gamma 1) protein. Despite the fact that these mice prime CD4+ T cells (Ronchese, F., B. Housemann, S. Hubele, and P. Lane. 1994. J. Exp. Med. 179:809), antibody responses to T-dependent antigens are severely impaired. In contrast, T-independent responses are normal which suggests mCTLA4-H gamma 1 does not act directly on B cells, but acts indirectly by impairing T cell help. The impaired antibody defect is associated with impaired class switching, with low total immunoglobulin (Ig)G and antigen-specific IgG responses, and an absence of germinal center formation in spleen and lymph nodes but not gut-associated tissues. The defective germinal center formation is associated with a reduction in the degree of somatic mutation in hybridomas made from transgenic mice in comparison with those made from normal mice. It seems likely that mCTLA4-H gamma 1 exerts its effect by blocking an interaction between T and B cells that induce T cell help for B cells.

scholarly journals bcl-2 Transgene Expression Inhibits Apoptosis in the Germinal Center and Reveals Differences in the Selection of Memory B Cells and Bone Marrow Antibody-Forming Cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 191 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth G.C. Smith ◽  
Amanda Light ◽  
Lorraine A. O'Reilly ◽  
Soon-Meng Ang ◽  
Andreas Strasser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Excessive Number ◽  
Selection Of

Immunization with T cell–dependent antigens generates long-lived memory B cells and antibody-forming cells (AFCs). Both populations originate in germinal centers and, predominantly, produce antibodies with high affinity for antigen. The means by which germinal center B cells are recruited into these populations remains unclear. We have examined affinity maturation of antigen-specific B cells in mice expressing the cell death inhibitor bcl-2 as a transgene. Such mice had reduced apoptosis in germinal centers and an excessive number of memory B cells with a low frequency of V gene somatic mutation, including those mutations encoding amino acid exchanges known to enhance affinity. Despite the frequency of AFCs being increased in bcl-2–transgenic mice, the fraction secreting high-affinity antibody in the bone marrow at day 42 remained unchanged compared with controls. The inability of BCL-2 to alter selection of bone marrow AFCs is consistent with these cells being selected within the germinal center on the basis of their affinity being above some threshold rather than their survival being due to a selective competition for an antigen-based signal. Continuous competition for antigen does, however, explain formation of the memory compartment.

A “Survival of the Fittest” Mechanism for Weeding Out Potentially Lymphomagenic B-Cells during Germinal Center B-Cell Differentiation.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 559-559
Author(s):  
Weimin Ci ◽  
Jose M. Polo ◽  
Stella M. Ranuncolo ◽  
Ari Melnick
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Quality Control ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Mrna Levels

Abstract During normal T-cell dependent immune responses, activated B-cells differentiate into germinal center (GC) centroblasts, which tolerate simultaneous genomic recombination and rapid clonal expansion in order to produce high affinity antibodies. Upregulation of the BCL6 transcriptional repressor is required for centroblasts to acquire this phenotype, since it can repress DNA damage sensing and checkpoint genes. Genetic lesions that cause constitutive expression of BCL6 are common oncogenic events in human diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) and presumably contribute to malignant transformation by sustaining the centroblast phase and facilitating accumulation of genetic errors. We hypothesized that centroblasts must have evolved a mechanism to rapidly terminate the genomic instability phenotype in order to limit the likelihood of malignant transformation. A recent report (Allen et. al. PMID: 17185562) showed that centroblasts and GC T-cells make direct physical contact for ∼30 minutes during affinity maturation. We wondered whether CD40 signaling from T-cells could disrupt the function of BCL6 within this timeframe. Accordingly, we found in ChIP assays that CD40 signaling in B-cells can disrupt the ability of BCL6 to recruit the SMRT and N-CoR corepressors within minutes, at which time RNA polymerase II moves from the promoter to the exons of BCL6 target genes, histones became acetylated, and mRNA levels increase. We showed that signaling from CD40 to N-CoR was dependent on NFkB, while signaling to SMRT appeared to be related to MAP kinase phosphorylation cascades. Two BCL6 targets regulated in this manner are ATR and p53. Accordingly, although CD40 can promote survival of intact GC B-cells, CD40 induced cell death of centroblasts in the presence of higher levels of DNA damage led to cell death, rather than survival. Washout of CD40 after 60 minutes to emulate transient T-cell contact permitted BCL6 target gene mRNA levels to return to their repressed levels, demonstrating that this is a reversible process, which could allow centroblasts that pass quality control to either continue proliferation or undergo terminal differentiation. In order to identify direct targets of BCL6 subject to this regulatory mechanism, we performed ChIP-on-chip of BCL6 in primary human tonsilar centroblasts on a 24,000 promoter array. 915 genes were identified with a cut-off of 99.9th percentile (FDR<0.026), while 1880 genes were identified with a cutoff at the 99th percentile (FDR<0.12). These natural BCL6 targets are functionally related to DNA damage response, transcriptional repression, protein translation, NFkB signaling and others, re-expression of which may play a critical role in facilitating quality control of centroblasts during affinity maturation. Taken together, these data suggest that transient CD40 signaling in the GC might allow T-cells to “weed out” heavily damaged centroblasts while at the same time promoting survival of only the “fittest” B-cells, which could undergo differentiation or additional rounds of proliferation. Others have shown that sustained CD40 signaling can downregulate BCL6 at longer timepoints, possibly reflecting longer exposure of B-cells to this signaling pathway that might occur towards the end of their cycle through the germinal center. Therefore, CD40 can inhibit BCL6 through two different mechanisms, each with potentially different functions during B-cell maturation. Loss of either mechanism is likely to contribute to lymphomagenesis.

scholarly journals Distinctive expression pattern of the BCL-6 protein in nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Falini ◽  
B Bigerna ◽  
L Pasqualucci ◽  
M Fizzotti ◽  
MF Martelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Hodgkin's Disease ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Zinc Finger Protein ◽  
Hodgkin’S Disease ◽  
Malignant Cell ◽  
Germinal Center B Cells

The BCL-6 gene encoding a nuclear-located Kruppel-type zinc finger protein is rearranged in about 30% diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and is expressed predominantly in normal germinal center B cells and related lymphomas. These findings suggest that BCL-6 may play a role in regulating differentiation of normal germinal center B cells and that its deregulated expression caused by rearrangements may contribute to lymphomagenesis. This prompted us to investigate the expression of the BCL-6 protein in Hodgkin's disease (HD), focusing on the nodular lymphocyte predominance subtype (NLPHD), which differs from classical HD by virtue of the B-cell nature of the malignant cell population (so- called L&H cells) and its relationship with germinal centers. Forty-one HD samples (19 NLPHD, 12 nodular sclerosis, and 10 mixed cellularity) were immunostained with the monoclonal antibodies PG-B6 and PG-B6p that react with a fixative-sensitive and a formalin-resistant epitope on the aminoterminal region of the BCL-6 gene product, respectively. Strong nuclear positivity for the BCL-6 protein was detected in tumor (L&H) cells in all cases of NLPHD. In contrast, BCL-6 was expressed only in a small percentage of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells in about 30% of classical HD cases. Notably, the nuclei of reactive CD3+/CD4+ T cells nearby to and rosetting around L&H cells in NLPHD were also strongly BCL-6+, but lacked CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression. This staining pattern clearly differed from that of classical HD, whose cellular background was made up of CD3+/CD4+ T cells showing the BCL-6-/CD40L+ phenotype. These results further support the concept that NLPHD is an histogenetically distinct, B-cell-derived subtype of HD and suggest a role for BCL-6 in its development.

scholarly journals Cbl and Cbl-b control the germinal center reaction by facilitating naive B cell antigen processing

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Li ◽  
Liying Gong ◽  
Alexandre P. Meli ◽  
Danielle Karo-Atar ◽  
Weili Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Cell Interaction ◽  
Affinity Maturation ◽  
Antigen Uptake ◽  
Cell Antigen ◽  
Germinal Center Reaction ◽  
Follicular Helper

Antigen uptake and presentation by naive and germinal center (GC) B cells are different, with the former expressing even low-affinity BCRs efficiently capture and present sufficient antigen to T cells, whereas the latter do so more efficiently after acquiring high-affinity BCRs. We show here that antigen uptake and processing by naive but not GC B cells depend on Cbl and Cbl-b (Cbls), which consequently control naive B and cognate T follicular helper (Tfh) cell interaction and initiation of the GC reaction. Cbls mediate CD79A and CD79B ubiquitination, which is required for BCR-mediated antigen endocytosis and postendocytic sorting to lysosomes, respectively. Blockade of CD79A or CD79B ubiquitination or Cbls ligase activity is sufficient to impede BCR-mediated antigen processing and GC development. Thus, Cbls act at the entry checkpoint of the GC reaction by promoting naive B cell antigen presentation. This regulation may facilitate recruitment of naive B cells with a low-affinity BCR into GCs to initiate the process of affinity maturation.

scholarly journals Potential anti-EBV effects associated with elevated interleukin-21 levels: a case report

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Assing ◽  
Christian Nielsen ◽  
Marianne Jakobsen ◽  
Charlotte B. Andersen ◽  
Kristin Skogstrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Plasma Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
Cell Formation ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
Memory B Cell

Abstract Background Germinal center derived memory B cells and plasma cells constitute, in health and during EBV reactivation, the largest functional EBV reservoir. Hence, by reducing germinal center derived formation of memory B cells and plasma cells, EBV loads may be reduced. Animal and in-vitro models have shown that IL-21 can support memory B and plasma cell formation and thereby potentially contribute to EBV persistence. However, IL-21 also displays anti-viral effects, as mice models have shown that CD4+ T cell produced IL-21 is critical for the differentiation, function and survival of anti-viral CD8+ T cells able to contain chronic virus infections. Case presentation We present immunological work-up (flow-cytometry, ELISA and genetics) related to a patient suffering from a condition resembling B cell chronic active EBV infection, albeit with moderately elevated EBV copy numbers. No mutations in genes associated with EBV disease, common variable immunodeficiency or pertaining to the IL-21 signaling pathway (including hypermorphic IL-21 mutations) were found. Increased (> 5-fold increase 7 days post-vaccination) CD4+ T cell produced (p < 0.01) and extracellular IL-21 levels characterized our patient and coexisted with: CD8+ lymphopenia, B lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, compromised memory B cell differentiation, absent induction of B-cell lymphoma 6 protein (Bcl-6) dependent peripheral follicular helper T cells (pTFH, p = 0.01), reduced frequencies of peripheral CD4+ Bcl-6+ T cells (p = 0.05), compromised plasmablast differentiation (reduced protein vaccine responses (p < 0.001) as well as reduced Treg frequencies. Supporting IL-21 mediated suppression of pTFH formation, pTFH and CD4+ IL-21+ frequencies were strongly inversely correlated, prior to and after vaccination, in the patient and in controls, Spearman’s rho: − 0.86, p < 0.001. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of elevated CD4+ IL-21+ T cell frequencies in human EBV disease. IL-21 overproduction may, apart from driving T cell mediated anti-EBV responses, disrupt germinal center derived memory B cell and plasma cell formation, and thereby contribute to EBV disease control.

scholarly journals Compromised Ox40 Function in Cd28-Deficient Mice Is Linked with Failure to Develop Cxc Chemokine Receptor 5–Positive Cd4 Cells and Germinal Centers

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 (8) ◽  
pp. 1115-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy S.K. Walker ◽  
Adam Gulbranson-Judge ◽  
Sarah Flynn ◽  
Thomas Brocker ◽  
Chandra Raykundalia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Chemokine Receptor ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Interleukin 4 ◽  
Cxc Chemokine ◽  
Germinal Center Formation

Mice rendered deficient in CD28 signaling by the soluble competitor, cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated molecule 4–immunoglobulin G1 fusion protein (CTLA4-Ig), fail to upregulate OX40 expression in vivo or form germinal centers after immunization. This is associated with impaired interleukin 4 production and a lack of CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)5 on CD4 T cells, a chemokine receptor linked with migration into B follicles. Germinal center formation is restored in CTLA4-Ig transgenic mice by coinjection of an agonistic monoclonal antibody to CD28, but this is substantially inhibited if OX40 interactions are interrupted by simultaneous injection of an OX40-Ig fusion protein. These data suggest that CD28-dependent OX40 ligation of CD4 T cells at the time of priming is linked with upregulation of CXCR5 expression, and migration of T cells into B cell areas to support germinal center formation.

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