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. 1993 Dec 15;12(13):4955–4967. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1993.tb06189.x

Tracing B cell development in human germinal centres by molecular analysis of single cells picked from histological sections.

R Küppers 1, M Zhao 1, M L Hansmann 1, K Rajewsky 1
PMCID: PMC413756  PMID: 8262038

Abstract

Germinal centres are areas of intense B lymphocyte proliferation inside primary B cell follicles in spleen and lymph nodes. Rearranged V genes from single human B cells, isolated from histological sections of two such structures by micromanipulation, were amplified and sequenced. Cells from the follicular mantle were clonally diverse and largely expressed germline V genes. Germinal centres were dominated by a few large B cell clones dispersed throughout these structures and exhibiting intraclonal diversity by ongoing somatic hypermutation. Pronounced counterselection of replacement mutations seen in one of the germinal centres may indicate a late phase of the germinal centre reaction. A polyclonal population of activated B cells expressing unmutated antibodies in the dark zone of the other germinal centre may represent the initial founder cells.

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Selected References

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