Abstract
B cells can undergo affinity maturation through the process of somatic hypermutation (SHM) followed by selection for high-affinity variants. Affinity maturation occurs in germinal centers (GC) and requires T–B cell cooperation. Extra GC B-cell responses are associated with the production of low-affinity antibodies. B cells producing high-affinity IgE during T-dependent responses are not directly selected in GC but are produced by the sequential switching of GC-selected high-affinity IgG-producing B cells. In contrast, natural low-affinity IgE can be generated without cognate T–B cell interactions in lymphopenic conditions. Low- and high-affinity IgE may differentially affect mast cell survival and degranulation and thus determine whether mast cells contribute to a beneficial or pathogenic environment.
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The Lafaille laboratory is supported by the NIH/NIAID, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Strategic Program for Asthma Research, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
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Curotto de Lafaille, M.A., Lafaille, J.J. (2010). The Biology of IgE: The Generation of High-Affinity IgE Antibodies. In: Penichet, M., Jensen-Jarolim, E. (eds) Cancer and IgE. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-451-7_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-451-7_3
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