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Target Discovery and Validation Reviews and Protocols

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288 Sioud<br />

Fig. 5. Affinity maturation of B-cells within the germinal center. Antigen recognized by<br />

the surface IgM of the B-cells is internalized, processed, <strong>and</strong> presented on major histocompatability<br />

complex (MHC) class II molecule of the B-cells. The antigen can then be presented<br />

to a primed specific T-cell. The T-cells in turn produce cytokines, resulting in B-cell<br />

division <strong>and</strong> maturation to antibody-secreting cells. This activation occurs mainly within<br />

the germinal centers of lymph nodes, where B-cells proliferate in the dark zone as centroblasts.<br />

These cells do not express surface Ig (Ig–). During cell division they can accumulate<br />

V (D)J hypermutation. Subsequently, some cells express membrane antibodies with<br />

various affinities <strong>and</strong> migrate into the germinal center light zone as centrocytes with<br />

surface Ig (Ig+). Within the light zone, the centrocytes recover the exogenous antigens from<br />

follicular dendritic cells. Antibody–antigen complexes are bound to complement <strong>and</strong> Fc<br />

receptors on the follicular dendritic cell surface. Antigens that bind with high affinity to the<br />

antibody will lead to the positive selection of the centrocytes, resulting into the progression<br />

into plasma <strong>and</strong> memory B-cells. Antigens that bind weakly to the antibody would either<br />

activate RAG proteins <strong>and</strong> rearrangement at the Ig light chain (IgL) locus (receptor<br />

revision) or induce apoptosis in B-cells. Revised receptors may acquire high antigenic<br />

affinity, resulting in B-cell export to the periphery <strong>and</strong> further maturation.<br />

<strong>and</strong> valency of the interacting self-antigens. In general, highly expressed<br />

membrane-bound antigens or antigens with multiple identical epitopes induce<br />

extensive BCR cross-linking, leading to immature B deletion. In contrast,

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