Neoteny in lymphocytes: Rag1 and Rag2 expression in germinal center B cells.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
The products of the Rag1 and Rag2 genes drive genomic V(D)J rearrangements that assemble functional immunoglobulin and T cell antigen receptor genes. Expression of the Rag genes has been thought to be limited to developmentally immature lymphocyte populations that in normal adult animals are primarily restricted to the bone marrow and thymus. Abundant RAG1 and RAG2 protein and messenger RNA was detected in the activated B cells that populate murine splenic and Peyer's patch germinal centers. Germinal center B cells thus share fundamental characteristics of immature lymphocytes, raising the possibility that antigen-dependent secondary V(D)J rearrangements modify the peripheral antibody repertoire.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Han, S; Zheng, B; Schatz, DG; Spanopoulou, E; Kelsoe, G
Published Date
- December 20, 1996
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 274 / 5295
Start / End Page
- 2094 - 2097
PubMed ID
- 8953043
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0036-8075
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1126/science.274.5295.2094
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States