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How do follicular dendritic cells interact intimately with B cells in the germinal centre?
Author(s) -
Park ChanSik,
Choi Yong Sung
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2004.02075.x
Subject(s) - follicular dendritic cells , germinal center , cd40 , microbiology and biotechnology , somatic hypermutation , b cell , biology , antigen , stromal cell , immunoglobulin class switching , antigen presenting cell , antibody , plasma cell , immunology , t cell , cancer research , immune system , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro , genetics
Summary The germinal centre is a dynamic microenvironment where antigen‐activated B cells rapidly expand and differentiate, generating plasma cells and memory B cells. These cellular events are accompanied by dramatic changes in the antibody molecules that undergo somatic hypermutation and isotype switching. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are the stromal cells located in the germinal centre. Although the capacity of FDCs to present antigen to B cells through antigen–antibody complexes has been recognized for many years, additional critical functions of FDCs have only recently been recognized. FDCs prevent apoptosis of germinal centre B cells and stimulate cellular interaction and proliferation. Here, we review the FDC signalling molecules that have recently been identified, some of which offer potential therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases and B‐cell lymphomas.