In research published today in the journal Science Immunology, scientists from Benaroya Research Institute (BRI) and Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine show that thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) signaling regulates germinal center (GC) function. During an infection, GCs form in the secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the lymph nodes, tonsils and spleen, among other tissues. These GCs are dynamic microenvironments that optimize antigen specificity of B cells and whose activity results in long-lived and high-affinity antibodies, which ultimately provides long-term immunity against infection. Yet, the signaling molecules that regulate GC function are still being identified.
