GERMINAL CENTER CELL-KINETICS

The germinal centre is a fundamental component of the humoral immune r esponse, representing a unique microenvironment where antigen-activate d B lymphocytes undergo clonal expansion, mutate their immunoglobulin, and are subject to a stringent selection process based on their antig en affinity. This review highlights recent advances in the understandi ng of the cell kinetic process of activation, proliferation, different iation, and death of germinal centre cells, which are beginning to pro vide important insights into the regulation of this highly complex rea ction. Their definition may have considerable pathological import give n the involvement of the germinal centre in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas an d recent evidence suggesting that abnormal germinal centre reactions m ay be involved in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease and some autoi mmune diseases. (C) 1998 John Whey & Sons, Ltd.