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Fig. 1 | Retrovirology

Fig. 1

From: The role of follicular helper CD4 T cells in the development of HIV-1 specific broadly neutralizing antibody responses

Fig. 1

Sequence of events leading to GC induction and the production of high affinity antibodies. (1) The induction of Tfh takes place in the T-cell zone upon interaction with DCs. (2) In the T–B border, B cells present antigen in complex with MHC-II to Tfh. These early cognate interactions determine which B cells will migrate to the GC to undergo somatic hypermutation and clonal expansion and which will become plasmablasts. (3) GC B cells constantly migrate between the LZ and DZ sampling antigen on FDCs and receiving help from Tfh. The nature of these interactions determines which GC B cells will survive and become plasma cells as well as the number of rounds of affinity maturation and somatic hypermutation a B cell will undergo before selection and exit to the periphery. (4) GC B cells become either antibody secreting plasma cells or memory B cells upon GC exit. Tfh, follicular T-helper cell; GC, germinal center; DC, dendritic cell; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; LZ, light zone; DZ, dark zone; FDC, follicular dendritic cell; BCR, B cell receptor; ICOS, Inducible T-cell costimulator; TCR, T cell receptor

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