This book meets the demand of a recent surge of interest in germinal centers, the foci of antigen-induced, rapidly proliferating B lymphocytes, representing sites in mammalian lymphoid tissue where memory B cells are generated. Various aspects of the generation of germinal centers, the somatic hypermutation process and the cellular interactions involved in the selection process are discussed in detail. A chapter on germinal center-derived lymphomas completes the treatment. TOC:Overview of germinal center function and structure in normal and genetically engineered mice.- Relationship between the follicular dendritic cell reaction and germinal center development: normal, aged and retrovirus-infected mice.- T and B lymphocytes in germinal centers.- The mechanism of somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes.- Germinal center derived lymphomas in humans and mice.-
1. Overview of Germinal Center Function and Structure in Normal and Genetically Engineered Mice.- 2. The Germinal Center Reaction: Influence of FDC Function in Normal, Aged, and Retrovirus Infected Hosts.- 3. T and B Lymphocytes in Germinal Centers.- 4. Somatic Hypermutation of Immunoglobulin Genes.- 5. Germinal Center Derived Lymphomas in Humans and Mice.- Color Figures.