| First Author | Lentz VM | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 167 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 15-20 |
| PubMed ID | 11418626 | Mgi Jnum | J:120517 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3706720 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.167.1.15 |
| Citation | Lentz VM, et al. (2001) Cutting edge: germinal centers can be induced in the absence of T cells. J Immunol 167(1):15-20 |
| abstractText | Immunization of mice containing mutations that inactivate the TCR Cbeta and Cdelta genes with the T cell-independent (TI) type 2 Ag (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl-Ficoll induces clusters of peanut agglutinin-binding B cells in the spleen. These clusters are histologically indistinguishable from germinal centers (GCs) typical of T cell-dependent immune responses. They are located in follicles, and contain mature follicular dendritic cells, immune complex deposits, and B cells that display the phenotypic qualities of conventional GC B cells. However, the kinetics of this TI GC response differ from T cell-dependent GC responses in being rapidly induced and of short duration. Moreover, the Ab V genes expressed in TI GCs have not undergone somatic hypermutation. Therefore, T cells may be required for B cell differentiation processes associated with the intermediate and latter stages of the GC reaction, but they are dispensable for the induction and initial development of this response. |
