Cited by 526T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyImmune responses and vaccinationsImmunotherapy and Immune Responses

Germinal Center and Extrafollicular B Cell Responses in Vaccination, Immunity, and Autoimmunity

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Elsner, Rebecca A., Shlomchik, Mark J.·2020·Immunity

Abstract

Activated B cells participate in either extrafollicular (EF) or germinal center (GC) responses. Canonical responses are composed of a short wave of plasmablasts (PBs) arising from EF sites, followed by GC producing somatically mutated memory B cells (MBC) and long-lived plasma cells. However, somatic hypermutation (SHM) and affinity maturation can take place at both sites, and a substantial fraction of MBC are produced prior to GC formation. Infection responses range from GC responses that persist for months to persistent EF responses with dominant suppression of GCs. Here, we review the current understanding of the functional output of EF and GC responses and the molecular switches promoting them. We discuss the signals that regulate the magnitude and duration of these responses, and outline gaps in knowledge and important areas of inquiry. Understanding such molecular switches will be critical for vaccine development, interpretation of vaccine efficacy and the treatment for autoimmune diseases.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.11.006

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  • Persistent clones expand without accumulating large numbers of additional mutations, indicating that clonal expansion of human memory B cells does not require re-entry into germinal centres and occurs in the activated B cell compartment.

    “The persistent clones expand without accumulating large numbers of additional mutations, indicating that clonal expansion of human memory B cells does not require re-entry into germinal centres and occurs in the activated B cell compartment17,27–31.”

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Authors
Elsner, R. A., & Shlomchik, M. J.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Shlomchik, Mark J.
Venue
Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-12
Volume
53
Issue
6
Pages
1136-1150
ISSN
1074-7613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3111108024
Cited by
526
References
207
Citations by year
2026: 84 · 2025: 116 · 2024: 124 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 94 · 2021: 33 · 2019: 1
FWCI
4.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Keywords
germinal center reaction, somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation, memory B cells, plasmablasts, long-lived plasma cells, B cell activation, vaccine development, vaccine efficacy, autoimmunity, infection immunity
MeSH terms
Animals, Autoimmune Diseases, B-Lymphocytes, Humans, Immunity, Infections, Lymphocyte Activation, Plasma Cells, Vaccines, B-Lymphocyte Subsets, Immunoglobulin Class Switching, Germinal Center

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