Centroblasts

A centroblast generally refers to an activated B cell that is enlarged and proliferating. These metabolically active B cells proliferate in the germinal center of a secondary lymphoid follicle following exposure to follicular dendritic cell cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-15, 8D6, and BAFF. Stimulation from helper T cell cytokines and interactions between their CD40 ligand and the B cell CD40 induces B cells to express activation-induced cytidine deaminase, leading to both somatic hypermutation and isotype switching.

Centroblasts do not express Immunoglobulins and are unable to respond to the follicular dendritic cell antigens present in the secondary lymphoid follicles.

References

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