Autoantibodies as Diagnostic Markers and Mediator of Joint Inflammation in Arthritis

Figure 2

Germinal centers refer to sites within secondary lymphoid organs, lymph nodes, and the spleen where mature B cells proliferate, differentiate, and mutate their antibody genes by highly mutating somatic B cells to generate higher affinity (through somatic hypermutation) and class-switched antibodies. These cells developed dynamically after T-dependent antigen-activated follicular B cells. Formation of ectopic lymphoid aggregates with GC-like structures in the inflammatory tissues of RA patients is considered to contribute to the pathogenesis of arthritis.