After primary immunization with an immunogenic conjugate of (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl, two anatomically and phenotypically distinct populations of antibody-forming cells arise in the spleen. As early as 2 d after immunization, foci of antigen-binding B cells are observed along the periphery of the periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths. These foci expand, occupying as much as 1% of the splenic volume by day 8 of the response. Later, foci grow smaller and are virtually absent from the spleen by day 14. A second responding population, germinal center B cells, appear on day 8-10 and persist at least until day 16 post-immunization. Individual foci and germinal centers represent discrete pauciclonal populations that apparently undergo somatic evolution in the course of the primary response. We suggest that foci may represent regions of predominantly interclonal competition for antigen among unmutated B cells, while germinal centers are sites of intraclonal clonal competition between mutated sister lymphocytes.
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1 May 1991
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May 01 1991
In situ studies of the primary immune response to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl. I. The architecture and dynamics of responding cell populations.
J Jacob,
J Jacob
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
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R Kassir,
R Kassir
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
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G Kelsoe
G Kelsoe
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
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J Jacob
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
R Kassir
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
G Kelsoe
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1991) 173 (5): 1165–1175.
Citation
J Jacob, R Kassir, G Kelsoe; In situ studies of the primary immune response to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl. I. The architecture and dynamics of responding cell populations.. J Exp Med 1 May 1991; 173 (5): 1165–1175. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.173.5.1165
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