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Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Miller, C; Kelsoe, G
Published in: J Immunol
October 1, 1995

After injection with immunogenic conjugates of the hapten (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP), two distinct B cell populations can be identified in the spleen during the primary response. One of these populations is specialized for Ab production; the other, the germinal centers (GCs), has been identified as the site of Ig somatic hypermutation. Ag-driven selection of GC B cells bearing mutated receptors with higher affinity leads to the affinity maturation of serum Ab and increased protective humoral immunity. Microdissection of GC B cell populations specific for NP and sequencing of the recovered Ig heavy chain variable region genes revealed that the somatic hypermutation process is absent in the GCs of aged C57BL/6 mice. However, selection for Ag appears to occur in the absence of hypermutation in the form of competition between unmutated clones of Ag-activated B lymphocytes. Thus, affinity maturation in these animals is limited to the affinities of Ab encoded by the germline.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Immunol

ISSN

0022-1767

Publication Date

October 1, 1995

Volume

155

Issue

7

Start / End Page

3377 / 3384

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spleen
  • Phenylacetates
  • Nitrophenols
  • Mutation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Miller, C., & Kelsoe, G. (1995). Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice. J Immunol, 155(7), 3377–3384.

Published In

J Immunol

ISSN

0022-1767

Publication Date

October 1, 1995

Volume

155

Issue

7

Start / End Page

3377 / 3384

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spleen
  • Phenylacetates
  • Nitrophenols
  • Mutation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice
  • Immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Variable Region
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains