| First Author | Koni PA | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 189 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 855-64 |
| PubMed ID | 10049949 | Mgi Jnum | J:111249 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3653520 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.189.5.855 |
| Citation | Koni PA, et al. (1999) Lymph node germinal centers form in the absence of follicular dendritic cell networks. J Exp Med 189(5):855-64 |
| abstractText | Follicular dendritic cell networks are said to be pivotal to both the formation of germinal centers (GCs) and their functions in generating antigen-specific antibody affinity maturation and B cell memory. We report that lymphotoxin beta-deficient mice form GC cell clusters in the gross anatomical location expected of GCs, despite the complete absence of follicular dendritic cell networks. Furthermore, antigen-specific GC generation was at first relatively normal, but these GCs then rapidly regressed and GC-phase antibody affinity maturation was reduced. Lymphotoxin beta-deficient mice also showed substantial B cell memory in their mesenteric lymph nodes. This memory antibody response was of relatively low affinity for antigen at week 4 after challenge, but by week 10 after challenge was comparable to wild-type, indicating that affinity maturation had failed in the GC phase but developed later. |
