PLoS ONE (Jan 2018)

A mechanism of T cell dependent selection of antigen engaged Germinal Center B cells.

  • Vinod Krishna,
  • Kurtis E Bachman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200241
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 8
p. e0200241

Abstract

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A model of B cell affinity selection is proposed, and an explanation of peripheral tolerance mechanisms through antibody repertoire editing is presented. We show that affinity discrimination between B cells is driven by a competition between obtaining T cell help and removal of B cells from the light zone, either through apoptosis or by a return to the dark zone of germinal centers. We demonstrate that this mechanism also allows for the negative selection of self reactive B cells and maintenance of B cell tolerance during the Germinal Center reaction. Finally, we demonstrate that clonal expansion upon return to the Germinal Center dark zone amplifies differences in the antigen affinity of B cells that survive the light zone.