| First Author | Gonzalez DG | Year | 2018 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 201 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | 3569-3579 |
| PubMed ID | 30446568 | Mgi Jnum | J:268311 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6269316 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.1500497 |
| Citation | Gonzalez DG, et al. (2018) Nonredundant Roles of IL-21 and IL-4 in the Phased Initiation of Germinal Center B Cells and Subsequent Self-Renewal Transitions. J Immunol 201(12):3569-3579 |
| abstractText | We examined the unique contributions of the cytokines IL-21 and IL-4 on germinal center (GC) B cell initiation and subsequent maturation in a murine model system. Similar to other reports, we found T follicular helper cell expression of IL-21 begins prior to T follicular helper cell migration into the B cell follicle and precedes that of IL-4. Consistent with this timing, IL-21 signaling has a greater influence on the perifollicular pre-GC B cell transition to the intrafollicular stage. Notably, Bcl6(hi) B cells can form in the combined absence of IL-21R- and STAT6-derived signals; however, these nascent GC B cells cease to proliferate and are more prone to apoptosis. When B cells lack either IL-21R or STAT6, aberrant GCs form atypical centroblasts and centrocytes that differ in their phenotypic maturation and costimulatory molecule expression. Thus, IL-4 and IL-21 play nonredundant roles in the phased progression of GC B cell development that can initiate in the combined absence of these cytokine signals. |
