EDITORIAL doi: 10.1111/sji.12219 ..................................................................................................................................................................
The 18th Germinal Centre Meeting The 1st International Conference on Lymphatic Tissues and Germinal Centres in Immune Reactions was held in 1960. In September this year, we gather again for the 18th Germinal Centre Conference, which will be held in Uddevalla on the west coast of Sweden. A hallmark of this long running series of European conferences has been a special focus on in vivo studies of adaptive immune responses, in particular the development, activation and fate of B cells and follicular helper T (TFH) cells involved in the germinal centre (GC) reaction. The germinal centre (GC) reaction was first described by Walther Flemming in the late 19th century as the site in secondary lymphoid organs where lymphocyte development takes place. Although this function was to be shown incorrect, the importance of the microanatomy and regulation of the GC reaction has been a major interest of immunologists for many decades. Today the GC reaction is known to represent a key event in the adaptive immune response where decisive steps towards high affinity matured humoral immunity and long-term memory responses are taken [1]. In recent years, our understanding of the role of TFH cells in the GC has added a new dimension on the complex interactions between activated B cells, follicular dendritic cells (FDC), stromal and dendritic cells and these T cells [2]. While the GC is not only a site for B cell expansion and immediate maturation to antibody production, it is also the key element in generating memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells, albeit also a GC-independent memory B cell pathway has recently been described [3]. Whereas, numerous studies have documented the importance of class-switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM) of the rearranged Ig variable region genes for host protection against infectious diseases, the understanding of the mechanisms that regulate memory development in the GC are still incompletely understood [4]. However, with the strong interest in TFH cells and their function in the GC, it may soon be possible to design vaccine adjuvants that specifically can promote long-term memory development [5]. This will certainly be facilitated by the recent advances of novel methods to visualize cellular movements and interactions in vivo [6]. Important findings are now rapidly being made with regard to the elements that govern the GC reaction and how these are involved in memory development, in particular. Most of what we know today about GC emanate from studies of peripheral lymph nodes or the spleen. However, an emerging field of great interest is to understand the interplay between the microbiota and the host. This is especially true for studies of the mucosal immune system in the gut and understanding the mutualism that prevails between the microbiota and the host. This is a key to better treatments of many diseases, not only those affecting the gut or other mucosal tissues, but also diseases affecting joints and even the brain [7]. To what extent IgA antibodies are critical for gut homeostasis has been debated for long, but recent progress in the field has accumulated additional evidence in support of a critical function for IgA in the interplay between host and microbiota [8]. Also, for IgA immunity in the gut, the question of which regulatory elements are important for memory development is incompletely understood. There is great hope that better knowledge about immune regulation of IgA B cell responses would lead to the development of the next generation of effective oral vaccines [9]. To this end, recent advances in mucosal TFH cells involved in IgA B cell development in the Peyer’s patches have identified functions that appear to be quite unique and different from those found with TFH cells at systemic lymphoid tissues [10]. We are proud to host the 18th Germinal Centre Conference in Sweden, and we are delighted to see that the meeting continues to attract an impressive number of delegates. We are exceptionally thankful to the large number of world leading researchers and excellent speakers that have joined us. The meeting has graciously received funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Scandinavian Foundation of Immunology and several companies listed in the programme. Once again the GC conference is a golden opportunity to share research achievements and exchange ideas that will critically affect our work. We hope you enjoy the meeting and the wonderful venue on the west coast of Sweden! Nils Lycke, Lill M artensson-Bopp, Ulf Yrlid, Mats Bemark Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Box 435, SE 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
References 1 Tarlinton D, Good-Jacobson K. Diversity among memory B cells: origin, consequences, and utility. Science 2013;341:1205–11. 2 Tangye SG, Ma CS, Brink R, Deenick EK. The good, the bad and the ugly – TFH cells in human health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2013;13: 412–26. 3 Takemori T, Kaji T, Takahashi Y, Shimoda M, Rajewsky K. Generation of memory B cells inside and outside germinal centers. Eur J Immunol 2014;44:1258–64. 4 Bergmann B, Grimsholm O, Thorarinsdottir K et al. Memory B cells in mouse models. Scand J Immunol 2013;78:149–56.
Ó 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
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160 Editorial .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Mastelic B, Kamath AT, Fontannaz P et al. Environmental and T cell-intrinsic factors limit the expansion of neonatal follicular T helper cells but may be circumvented by specific adjuvants. J Immunol 2012;189:5764–72. 6 Victora GD, Schwickert TA, Fooksman DR et al. Germinal center dynamics revealed by multiphoton microscopy with a photoactivatable fluorescent reporter. Cell 2010;143:592–605. 7 Severance EG, Yolken RH, Eaton WW. Autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and the microbiome in schizophrenia: more than a gut feeling. Schizophr Res 2014;PubMed : Schizophr Res. 2014 Jul 14. pii: S0920-9964(14)00319-3. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.06.027. [Epub ahead of print]. 8 Kato LM, Kawamoto S, Maruya M, Fagarasan S. The role of the adaptive immune system in regulation of gut microbiota. Immunol Rev 2014;260:67– 75. 9 Lycke N. Recent progress in mucosal vaccine development: potential and limitations. Nat Rev Immunol 2012;12:592–605. 10 Vinuesa CG, Fagarasan S, Dong C. New territory for T follicular helper cells. Immunity 2013;39:417–20.
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 2014, 80, 159–160
The 18th Germinal Centre Meeting The 1st International Conference on Lymphatic Tissues and Germinal Centres in Immune Reactions was held in 1960. In September this year, we gather again for the 18th Germinal Centre Conference, which will be held in Uddevalla on the west coast of Sweden. A hallmark of this long running series of European conferences has been a special focus on in vivo studies of adaptive immune responses, in particular the development, activation and fate of B cells and follicular helper T (TFH) cells involved in the germinal centre (GC) reaction. The germinal centre (GC) reaction was first described by Walther Flemming in the late 19th century as the site in secondary lymphoid organs where lymphocyte development takes place. Although this function was to be shown incorrect, the importance of the microanatomy and regulation of the GC reaction has been a major interest of immunologists for many decades. Today the GC reaction is known to represent a key event in the adaptive immune response where decisive steps towards high affinity matured humoral immunity and long-term memory responses are taken [1]. In recent years, our understanding of the role of TFH cells in the GC has added a new dimension on the complex interactions between activated B cells, follicular dendritic cells (FDC), stromal and dendritic cells and these T cells [2]. While the GC is not only a site for B cell expansion and immediate maturation to antibody production, it is also the key element in generating memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells, albeit also a GC-independent memory B cell pathway has recently been described [3]. Whereas, numerous studies have documented the importance of class-switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM) of the rearranged Ig variable region genes for host protection against infectious diseases, the understanding of the mechanisms that regulate memory development in the GC are still incompletely understood [4]. However, with the strong interest in TFH cells and their function in the GC, it may soon be possible to design vaccine adjuvants that specifically can promote long-term memory development [5]. This will certainly be facilitated by the recent advances of novel methods to visualize cellular movements and interactions in vivo [6]. Important findings are now rapidly being made with regard to the elements that govern the GC reaction and how these are involved in memory development, in particular. Most of what we know today about GC emanate from studies of peripheral lymph nodes or the spleen. However, an emerging field of great interest is to understand the interplay between the microbiota and the host. This is especially true for studies of the mucosal immune system in the gut and understanding the mutualism that prevails between the microbiota and the host. This is a key to better treatments of many diseases, not only those affecting the gut or other mucosal tissues, but also diseases affecting joints and even the brain [7]. To what extent IgA antibodies are critical for gut homeostasis has been debated for long, but recent progress in the field has accumulated additional evidence in support of a critical function for IgA in the interplay between host and microbiota [8]. Also, for IgA immunity in the gut, the question of which regulatory elements are important for memory development is incompletely understood. There is great hope that better knowledge about immune regulation of IgA B cell responses would lead to the development of the next generation of effective oral vaccines [9]. To this end, recent advances in mucosal TFH cells involved in IgA B cell development in the Peyer’s patches have identified functions that appear to be quite unique and different from those found with TFH cells at systemic lymphoid tissues [10]. We are proud to host the 18th Germinal Centre Conference in Sweden, and we are delighted to see that the meeting continues to attract an impressive number of delegates. We are exceptionally thankful to the large number of world leading researchers and excellent speakers that have joined us. The meeting has graciously received funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Scandinavian Foundation of Immunology and several companies listed in the programme. Once again the GC conference is a golden opportunity to share research achievements and exchange ideas that will critically affect our work. We hope you enjoy the meeting and the wonderful venue on the west coast of Sweden! Nils Lycke, Lill M artensson-Bopp, Ulf Yrlid, Mats Bemark Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Box 435, SE 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
References 1 Tarlinton D, Good-Jacobson K. Diversity among memory B cells: origin, consequences, and utility. Science 2013;341:1205–11. 2 Tangye SG, Ma CS, Brink R, Deenick EK. The good, the bad and the ugly – TFH cells in human health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2013;13: 412–26. 3 Takemori T, Kaji T, Takahashi Y, Shimoda M, Rajewsky K. Generation of memory B cells inside and outside germinal centers. Eur J Immunol 2014;44:1258–64. 4 Bergmann B, Grimsholm O, Thorarinsdottir K et al. Memory B cells in mouse models. Scand J Immunol 2013;78:149–56.
Ó 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
159
160 Editorial .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Mastelic B, Kamath AT, Fontannaz P et al. Environmental and T cell-intrinsic factors limit the expansion of neonatal follicular T helper cells but may be circumvented by specific adjuvants. J Immunol 2012;189:5764–72. 6 Victora GD, Schwickert TA, Fooksman DR et al. Germinal center dynamics revealed by multiphoton microscopy with a photoactivatable fluorescent reporter. Cell 2010;143:592–605. 7 Severance EG, Yolken RH, Eaton WW. Autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders and the microbiome in schizophrenia: more than a gut feeling. Schizophr Res 2014;PubMed : Schizophr Res. 2014 Jul 14. pii: S0920-9964(14)00319-3. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.06.027. [Epub ahead of print]. 8 Kato LM, Kawamoto S, Maruya M, Fagarasan S. The role of the adaptive immune system in regulation of gut microbiota. Immunol Rev 2014;260:67– 75. 9 Lycke N. Recent progress in mucosal vaccine development: potential and limitations. Nat Rev Immunol 2012;12:592–605. 10 Vinuesa CG, Fagarasan S, Dong C. New territory for T follicular helper cells. Immunity 2013;39:417–20.
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 2014, 80, 159–160
