Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Germinal centers (GC) are microanatomical structures critical for the development of high-affinity antibodies and B-cell memory. They are organised into two zones, light and dark, with coordinated roles, controlled by local signalling. The innate Lectin-like transcript 1 (LLT1) is known to be expressed on B-cells, but its functional role in the GC reaction has not been explored. Here we report high expression of LLT1 on GC-associated B-cells, early plasmablasts and GC-derived lymphomas. LLT1 expression was readily induced via BCR, CD40 and CpG stimulation on B-cells. Unexpectedly, we found high expression of the LLT1 ligand, CD161, on Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). Triggering of LLT1 supported B-cell activation, CD83 upregulation and CXCR4 downregulation. Overall, these data suggest that LLT1-CD161 interactions play a novel and important role in B-cell maturation within the GC in humans.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of Immunology

Publisher

American Association of Immunologists