2024/09/24 by A. Aubin, Daria Vdovenko, Roxanne Collin +5 · 1 voice
Immunology and Microbiology · #Immune Cell Function and Interaction #Immune Response and Inflammation #T-cell and B-cell Immunology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/imcb.12823
openalex publication_date 2024/09/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The humoral response is complex and involves multiple cellular populations and signaling pathways. Bacterial and viral infections, as well as immunization regimens, can trigger this type of response, promoting the formation of microanatomical cellular structures called germinal centers (GCs). GCs formed in secondary lymphoid organs support the differentiation of high-affinity plasma cells and memory B cells. There is growing evidence that the quality of the humoral response is influenced by genetic variants. Using 12 genetically divergent mouse strains, we assessed the impact of genetics on GC cellular traits. At steady state, in the spleen, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, we quantified GC B cells, plasma cells and follicular helper T cells. These traits were also quantified in the spleen of mice following immunization with a foreign antigen, namely, sheep red blood cells, in addition to the number and size of GCs. We observed both strain- and organ-specific variations in cell type abundance, as well as for GC number and size. Moreover, we find that some of these traits are highly heritable. Importantly, the results of this study inform on the impact of genetic diversity in shaping the GC response and identify the traits that are the most impacted by genetic background.