The Journal of Experimental Medicine
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Published online 2 October 2000.
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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0022-1007/2000/10/931/ $5.00
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Volume 192, Number 7, October 2, 2000 931-942

Original Article

Germinal Center Initiation, Variable Gene Region Hypermutation, and Mutant B Cell Selection without Detectable Immune Complexes on Follicular Dendritic Cells

Lynn G. Hannuma, Ann M. Habermana, Shannon M. Andersona, and Mark J. Shlomchikb

a Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
b Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208035, 330 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06520-8035.203-688-2748203-688-2089

Serum antibody (Ab) can play several roles during B cell immune responses. Among these is to promote the deposition of immune complexes (ICs) on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). ICs on FDCs are generally thought to be critical for normal germinal center (GC) formation and the development and selection of memory B cells. However, it has been very difficult to test these ideas. To determine directly whether FDC-bound complexes do indeed function in these roles, we have developed a transgenic (Tg) mouse in which all B lymphocytes produce only the membrane-bound form of immunoglobulin M. Immune Tg mice have 10,000-fold less specific Ab than wild-type mice and lack detectable ICs on FDCs. Nonetheless, primary immune responses and the GC reaction in these mice are robust, suggesting that ICs on FDCs do not play critical roles in immune response initiation and GC formation. Moreover, as indicated by the presence and pattern of somatic mutations, memory cell formation and selection appear normal in these IC-deficient GCs.

Key Words: B lymphocyte • transgenic mouse • surface immunoglobulin • lambda light chain • immunological memory

L.G. Hannum's present address is University of Southern Maine/Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster St., Lewiston, ME 04240.

Abbreviations used in this paper: AFC, Ab-forming cell; BCR, B cell receptor; CGG, chicken gamma globulin; CR, complement receptor; FDC, follicular dendritic cell; GC, germinal center; HSA, human serum albumin; IC, immune complex; JHD, JH knockout strain; LT, lymphotoxin; mIg, membrane Ig; MZ, marginal zone; PNA-HRP, peanut agglutinin–horseradish peroxidase; Tg, transgenic or transgene.

© 2000 The Rockefeller University Press


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