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Follicular Dendritic Cells: B-Cell Proliferation and Maturation¹

Department of Anatomy, Division of Immunobiology [A. K. S.], and Department of Microbiology/Immunology [J. G. T.], Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) play a pivotal role in the initiation and maintenance of the secondary humoral immune response. FDC located in the follicles of secondary lymphoid tissues are part of a special mechanism that handles antigen in a specific antibody-rich environment and are integral members of the antigen transport cell-FDC-iccosome-B-cell axis that leads to the formation of germinal centers, antibody-forming cells, and memory B-cells. This review briefly outlines the basic biology of FDC function and provides a source of pertinent references.