OLIGOCLONAL DEVELOPMENT OF GERMINAL CENTER CELLS AS DETECTED BY ANTIIDIOTYPE ANTIBODIES

Experimental models using immunization with known haptens have shown t hat germinal centres develop from only a limited number of precursor c ells which expand in an oligoclonal fashion. Using a panel of antibodi es raised against the idiotype of follicle centre cell lymphomas and k nown to be reactive only with a few normal B cells, we could demonstra te that individual clones can be identified within germinal centres of individual follicles of human lymph nodes and tonsils. Therefore also in humans in a non-experimental, natural situation, germinal centres expand in an oligoclonal fashion.