Evaluation of the Antigen-Experienced B-Cell Receptor Repertoire in Healthy Children and Adults.

ABSTRACT: Upon antigen recognition via their B cell receptor (BR), B cells migrate to the germinal center where they undergo somatic hypermutation (SHM) to increase their affinity for the antigen, and class switch recombination (CSR) to change the effector function of the secreted antibodies. These steps are essential to create an antigen-experienced BR repertoire that efficiently protects the body against pathogens. At the same time, the BR repertoire should be selected to protect against responses to self-antigen or harmless antigens. Insights into the processes of SHM, selection, and CSR can be obtained by studying the antigen-experienced BR repertoire. Currently, a large reference data set of healthy children and adults, which ranges from neonates to the elderly, is not available. In this study,

SUBMITTER: IJspeert H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5066086 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature