| First Author | Allen CD | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 315 |
| Issue | 5811 | Pages | 528-31 |
| PubMed ID | 17185562 | Mgi Jnum | J:118931 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3700737 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1136736 |
| Citation | Allen CD, et al. (2007) Imaging of germinal center selection events during affinity maturation. Science 315(5811):528-31 |
| abstractText | The germinal center (GC) is an important site for the generation and selection of B cells bearing high-affinity antibodies, yet GC cell migration and interaction dynamics have not been directly observed. Using two-photon microscopy of mouse lymph nodes, we revealed that GC B cells are highly motile and extend long cell processes. They transited between GC dark and light zones and divided in both regions, although these B cells resided for only several hours in the light zone where antigen is displayed. GC B cells formed few stable contacts with GC T cells despite frequent encounters, and T cells were seen to carry dead B cell blebs. On the basis of these observations, we propose a model in which competition for T cell help plays a more dominant role in the selection of GC B cells than previously appreciated. |
