Germinal centers (GCs) are microanatomical sites of B cell clonal expansion and antibody affinity maturation. Therein, B cells undergo the Darwinian process of somatic diversification and affinity-driven selection of immunoglobulins that produces the high-affinity antibodies essential for effective humoral immunity. Here, we review recent developments in the field of GC biology, primarily as it pertains to GCs induced by infection or immunization. First, we summarize the phenotype and function of the different cell types that compose the GC, focusing on GC B cells. Then, we review the cellular and molecular bases of affinity-dependent selection within the GC and the export of memory and plasma cells. Finally, we present an overview of the emerging field of GC clonal dynamics, focusing on how GC and post-GC selection shapes the diversity of antibodies secreted into serum.

中文翻译：

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生发中心

生发中心 (GC) 是 B 细胞克隆扩增和抗体亲和力成熟的显微解剖部位。其中，B 细胞经历体细胞多样化和亲和力驱动的免疫球蛋白选择​​的达尔文过程，产生有效体液免疫所必需的高亲和力抗体。在这里，我们回顾了GC生物学领域的最新进展，主要是因为它与感染或免疫诱导的GC有关。首先，我们总结了组成 GC 的不同细胞类型的表型和功能，重点关注 GC B 细胞。然后，我们回顾了 GC 内亲和力依赖性选择的细胞和分子基础以及记忆细胞和浆细胞的输出。最后，我们概述了 GC 克隆动力学这一新兴领域，重点关注 GC 和 GC 后选择如何塑造分泌到血清中的抗体的多样性。