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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

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Miller, C., & Kelsoe, G. (1995). Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice. J Immunol, 155(7), 3377–3384.
Miller, C., and G. Kelsoe. “Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice.J Immunol 155, no. 7 (October 1, 1995): 3377–84.
Miller C, Kelsoe G. Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice. J Immunol. 1995 Oct 1;155(7):3377–84.
Miller, C., and G. Kelsoe. “Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice.J Immunol, vol. 155, no. 7, Oct. 1995, pp. 3377–84.
Miller C, Kelsoe G. Ig VH hypermutation is absent in the germinal centers of aged mice. J Immunol. 1995 Oct 1;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