SOLUBLE-ANTIGEN CAN CAUSE ENHANCED APOPTOSIS OF GERMINAL-CENTER B-CELLS
- Author(s)
- Pulendran, B; Kannourakis, G; Nouri, S; Smith, KGC; Nossal, GJV;
- Details
- Publication Year 1995-05-25,Volume 375,Issue #6529,Page 331-334
- Journal Title
- NATURE
- Publication Type
- Journal Article
- Abstract
- GERMINAL centres are dynamic microenvironments of B-lymphocyte differentiation, which develop in secondary lymphoid tissues during immune responses(1-3). Within germinal centres, activated B lymphocytes proliferate and point mutations are rapidly introduced into the genes encoding their immunoglobulin receptor(4-10). As a result, new specificities of B cells are created, including those with a heightened capacity to bind the immunizing antigen(4-11). Immunoglobulin gene mutation can also lead to reactivity to self antigens(12-14). It has been suggested that any newly formed self-reactive B cells are eliminated within the germinal centre in order to avoid autoimmunity(15,16). Here we present evidence that antigen-specific, high-affinity, germinal-centre B cells are rapidly killed by apoptosis in sits when they encounter soluble antigen. The effect seems to act directly on the B cells, rather than through helper T cells. Furthermore, the apoptosis is unique to germinal-centre cells, and is only incompletely impeded by constitutive expression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2. This phenomenon may reflect clonal deletion of self-reactive B cells within germinal centres.
- Publisher
- MACMILLAN MAGAZINES LTD
- Keywords
- IMMUNE-RESPONSE; AFFINITY MATURATION; SOMATIC MUTATION; C57BL-6 MICE; DEATH; CENTERS; LYMPHOCYTES; REPERTOIRE; ANTIBODIES; PROTEIN
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1038/375331a0
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 1995-05-25 12:00:00