Determining germinal centre B cell fate

• Published in: Trends in immunology Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 281 - 288
• Main Authors: Zotos, Dimitra, Tarlinton, David M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2012; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: affinity maturation; Allergy and Immunology; Animals; antibodies; Antigens; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Bone marrow; Cell Communication; Cell Differentiation; Cell fate; Cell interactions; Cell Lineage; cytokines; Differentiation; Germinal Center - cytology; Germinal Center - immunology; Germinal centers; Guanylate cyclase; Humans; humoral immunity; Immune system; immunologic memory; Immunological memory; Interleukins; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes B; Lymphocytes T; memory; Memory cells; Plasma cells; Reviews; T cell receptors; humoral immunity; antibodies; cytokines; memory; affinity maturation
• ISSN: 1471-4906; 1471-4981
• DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2012.04.003

The humoral immune system generates immunological memory comprising affinity matured, long-lived memory B cells and plasma cells (PCs), which are generated primarily in germinal centres (GCs). Although many factors are essential in this process, those that specifically govern B cell fate are not fully understood. The provision of T cell help to B cells is key in GC B cell fate determination, and it has become clear recently that this help involves more than direct cell–cell interactions. Recently, the cytokine interleukin (IL)-21 has been identified as a key factor that can modulate the processes within GCs and directly influence B cell fate. In this review, we examine the roles of GC cytokines in the context of cell differentiation.