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Questions and Answers
What is the main function of germinal centers in secondary lymphoid organs?
What are the two distinct zones that B cells cycle through in the germinal center?
What are centroblasts and centrocytes in the context of germinal centers?
What initiates germinal center formation in lymph nodes?
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What is the main role of follicular helper T (TFH) cells in the germinal center?
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Study Notes
Germinal Centers in Secondary Lymphoid Organs
- The main function of germinal centers is to generate high-affinity antibodies through the process of affinity maturation and antibody class switching.
Germinal Center Structure
- Germinal centers are composed of two distinct zones: the dark zone and the light zone.
- Dark zone: a region of rapid B cell proliferation and somatic hypermutation, where B cells undergo rapid clonal expansion.
- Light zone: a region of antigen presentation and B cell selection, where B cells undergo affinity maturation and selection.
B Cell Types in Germinal Centers
- Centroblasts: B cells in the dark zone that undergo rapid proliferation and somatic hypermutation, leading to the generation of high-affinity antibodies.
- Centrocytes: B cells in the light zone that undergo affinity maturation and selection, resulting in the survival of high-affinity B cells.
Germinal Center Formation
- Germinal center formation in lymph nodes is initiated by the activation of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) through the binding of activated B cells and CD4+ T cells.
Follicular Helper T (TFH) Cells
- The main role of TFH cells is to provide help to B cells in the germinal center, promoting their survival, proliferation, and differentiation into high-affinity antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B cells.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the formation, function, and regulation of germinal centers in secondary lymphoid organs as part of the immune response.
