Medical Biology - Theses

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B cell selection in the germinal centre

Blink, Elizabeth J ( 2002-10)

Central to the humoral immune response is the production of memory B cells and the secretion of highly specific antibody, by high affinity antibody forming cells (AFCs). Both these cell types are produced in germinal centres (GC) during primary responses but have several different properties. AFCs arise early in the reaction, are highly selected for affinity and specifically migrate to the bone marrow (BM) where they persist for many months. Memory cells are produced later, are not so stringently selected and recirculate throughout the lymphoid system, but also persist for many months. Therefore, there is a selective difference in the outcome of the GC reaction. (For complete abstract open document)