Download MendeleyCompetition propels, rather than limits, the success of low-affinity B cells in the germinal center response.
Li, R., Bao, K., Liu, C., Ma, X., Hua, Z., Zhu, P., Hou, B.(2025) Cell Rep 44: 115334-115334
- PubMed: 39955776
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115334
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
8W5D, 8W5E, 8W5F, 8W5G, 8W5H, 8W5I, 8W5L, 8W5M, 8W5N, 8W5O, 8W5P, 8W5Q, 8W5R, 8W5T, 8W5U, 8W5V, 8W5W - PubMed Abstract:
The germinal center (GC) sets an environment where antigen-specific B cells are compelled to continuously increase their affinity to compete for the antigen and obtain Tfh help for survival and propagation. Previous studies indicated that low-affinity B cells are disadvantaged in the presence of high-affinity ones, suggesting that competition may lead to the elimination of low-affinity B cells and their descendants. However, using a multivalent virus-mimicking antigen, our study demonstrates that low-affinity B cells not only successfully participate in GC responses alongside high-affinity B cells but also undergo accelerated affinity maturation under the more stringent competition. Furthermore, our cryo-electron-microscopy-based structural analysis reveals that both low-affinity and high-affinity B cells compete for the same antigenic epitope. Although the applicability of this idealized GC competition to true pathogen-induced responses remains uncertain, this change in perspective on the role of competition in low-affinity B cell evolution provides valuable insights for vaccine development.
Organizational Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
