Abstract
Memory B-cell clones develop from virgin B cells that take up processed antigen, make cognate interaction with primed T cells and then grow in germinal centres. Within the germinal centre the proliferating B cells undergo Ig variable-region mutation and are subsequently selected on their ability to bind antigen held on follicular dendritic cells and then to make cognate interaction with germinal centre T cells. The selected cells emerge as memory B cells or plasmablasts. Although many of the memory B cells and most of the plasma cells emerging from follicles have undergone Ig class switch recombination a substantial minority of the memory B cells have not switched. These non-switched memory cells can be induced to switch on re-exposure to antigen. Affinity maturation following a single immunization ceases as germinal centres wane some 3-4 weeks after immunization - memory cells and antibody production, on the other hand, persist for months and even years.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 229-34 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Seminars in Immunology |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 1997 |
Keywords
- Clone Cells
- Antigen Presentation
- Animals
- Cell Aging
- Humans
- Germinal Center
- Immunologic Memory
- B-Lymphocytes
- Lymphocyte Cooperation
- Immunoglobulin Switch Region
- T-Lymphocytes