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. 2017 Feb 17;6(2):e130. doi: 10.1038/cti.2016.89

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The generation of a germinal center. BII cells recirculate between follicles in a quiescent state. Here Ag from the blood, lymph and mucosa is presented. When encountering an antigen that engages BCR, they start dividing. Presentation of antigen via the MHCII to cognate Th cells provides costimulatory signals and results in the generation of a germinal center. Centroblasts divide and accumulate mutations, leading to changes in the affinity of the BCR. Competition favors BCRs with higher affinity. Selected high-affinity cells return to the dark zone several times, capturing more antigen and starting another cycle of divisions.