|
||
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 173, 1297-1304, Copyright © 1991 by Rockefeller University Press
ARTICLES |
G Koopman, HK Parmentier, HJ Schuurman, W Newman, CJ Meijer and ST Pals
Department of Pathology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Presentation of antigen in the form of immune complexes to B lymphocytes by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) is considered to be a central step in the generation of memory B cells. During this process, which takes place in the microenvironment of the germinal center, B cells and FDC are in close physical contact. In the present study, we have explored the molecular basis of FDC-B cell interaction by using FDC and B cells derived from human tonsils. We found that FDC express high levels of the adhesion receptors intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1 [CD54]) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), while the B lymphocytes express lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA- 1 [CD11a/18]), very late antigen 4 (VLA-4 [CD49d], and CD44. Furthermore, we established that both the LFA-1/ICAM-1 and VLA-4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathways are involved in FDC-B lymphocyte binding, and therefore, these pathways might be essential in affinity selection of B cells and in the formation of B memory cells.
This article has been cited by other articles:
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|