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Follicular Dendritic Cells

Dr. Haberman's research group studies an aspect of normal immune responses known as a germinal center reaction. In response to exposure to pathogens or immunization, large numbers of B lymphocytes that are specific for the foreign compound form an aggregate of dividing cells. As the germinal center expands, non-responding B cells (green) are displaced by responding B cells (blue), forming a corona around the germinal center.  Contact with the fine dendrites of Follicular Dendritic cells (red) encourages long-term survival and differentiation of germinal center B cells.