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Zonal distribution of immunoglobulin‐synthesizing cells within the germinal centre: An in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical study
Author(s) -
Close Pauline M.,
Pringle James H.,
Ruprai Anita K.,
West Kevin P.,
Lauder Ian
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711620306
Subject(s) - germinal center , in situ hybridization , immunoglobulin light chain , antibody , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , lymph , immunoglobulin d , in situ , messenger rna , chemistry , b cell , pathology , immunology , biochemistry , gene , medicine , organic chemistry
Immunohistologic studies have shown that synthesis of cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (cIg) is a normal function of some follicle centre cells (FCCs). The mechanisms regulating this synthesis of immunoglobulin and its function within the germinal centre are still poorly understood. In this study we applied a recently developed in situ hybridization method for the detection of kappa and lambda light chain mRNA to reactive lymph nodes and tonsils in order to investigate further the immunoglobulin‐synthesizing cells of the germinal centre. FCCs containing detectable levels of light chain mRNA corresponded closely to cells containing cIg. The detection of light chain mRNA rather than its immunoglobulin product was found to be an advantage in that problems associated with the detection of extracellular immunoglobulin were eliminated. This was most apparent in germinal centres where the absence of ‘network’ immunoglobulin led to the observations that immunoglobulin‐synthesizing FCCs are predominantly small centrocytes and that in a proportion of germinal centres they localize in that part of the light zone closest to the dark zone. This zonal distribution of immunoglobulin‐synthesizing FCCs raises the possibility of further functional and micro‐environmental subcompartments within the light zone.