biostudies-literatureKuo TCIntramural NIH HHSNIAID NIH HHS819-30https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2118536biostudies-literatureUnknown204(4)Memory B cells provide rapid protection to previously encountered antigens; however, how these cells develop from germinal center B cells is not well understood. A previously described in vitro culture system using human tonsillar germinal center B cells was used to study the transcriptional changes that occur during differentiation of human memory B cells. Kinetic studies monitoring the expression levels of several known late B cell transcription factors revealed that BCL-6 is not expressed in memory B cells generated in vitro, and gene expression profiling studies confirmed that BCL-6 is not expressed in these memory B cells. Furthermore, ectopic expression of BCL-6 in human B cell cultures resulted in formation of fewer memory B cells. In addition, the expression profile of in vitro memThe Journal of experimental medicineRepression of BCL-6 is required for the formation of human memory B cells in vitro.PMC2118536R01 AI050659R01AI50659R01AI43576R01 AI043576Haddad JKuo TCCalame KShaffer ALChoi YSStaudt LMfalseRepression of BCL-6 is required for the formation of human memory B cells in vitro.Memory B cells provide rapid protection to previously encountered antigens; however, how these cells develop from germinal center B cells is not well understood. A previously described in vitro culture system using human tonsillar germinal center B cells was used to study the transcriptional changes that occur during differentiation of human memory B cells. Kinetic studies monitoring the expression levels of several known late B cell transcription factors revealed that BCL-6 is not expressed in memory B cells generated in vitro, and gene expression profiling studies confirmed that BCL-6 is not expressed in these memory B cells. Furthermore, ectopic expression of BCL-6 in human B cell cultures resulted in formation of fewer memory B cells. In addition, the expression profile of in vitro mem2007-01-01T00:00:00Z2007 Apr2026-04-16T05:15:15.104Z2026-04-13T03:06:45.883ZS-EPMC21185361740393510.1084/jem.20062104