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Guidance of B Cells by the Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor EBI2 Shapes Humoral Immune Responses -Dominique Gatto

August 21, 2009

Humoral immunity depends on both rapid and longterm antibody production against invading pathogens. This is achieved by the generation of spatially distinct extrafollicular plasmablast and follicular germinal center (GC) B cells populations, but the signals that guide responding Bcells to these alternative compartments have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that expression of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene2 (EBI2, also known as GPR183) by activated B cells was essential for their movement to extrafollicular sites and induction of early plasmablast responses. Conversely,
downregulation of EBI2 enabled B cells to access the center of follicles and promoted efficient GCformation.EBI2 therefore provides a previously uncharacterized dimension to B cell migration that is crucial for coordinating rapid versus long-term antibody responses.


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Source: Alliance for Lupus Research
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1.5 million

people in the U.S. have Lupus.

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dollars committed to lupus research by the Alliance for Lupus Research.


