Within germinal centers (GCs), complex and highly orchestrated molecular programs must balance proliferation, somatic hypermutation (SHM) and selection to both provide effective humoral immunity and to protect against genomic instability and neoplastic transformation. In contrast to this complexity, GC B cells are canonically divided into two principal populations, dark zone (DZ) and light zone (LZ) cells. We now demonstrate that following selection in the LZ, B cells migrated to specialized sites within the canonical DZ that contained tingible body macrophages (TBMs) and were sites of ongoing cell division. Proliferating DZ (DZp) cells then transited into the larger DZ to become differentiating DZ (DZd) cells before re-entering the LZ. Multidimensional analysis revealed distinct molecular programs in each population commensurate with observed compartmentization of non-compatable functions. These data provide a new three-cell population model that both orders critical GC functions and reveals essential molecular programs of humoral adaptive immunity.

Background:The role of HDL in sepsis remains to be clarified. Results: ApoA-I-KO mice are susceptible but apoA-I-tg mice are resistant to CLP-induced sepsis. Lack of HDL leads to less LPS neutralization, less LPS clearance, impaired leukocyte recruitment, and reduced corticosterone generation in sepsis. Conclusion: HDL exerts multiple protective effects in polymicrobe-induced sepsis. Significance: Our study supports efforts to raise HDL levels as a therapeutic approach for sepsis.

Vimentin has been implicated in pulmonary sarcoidosis as a T-cell autoantigen, particularly in the context of HLA-DRB1*03, the Vα2.3/Vβ22 T-cell receptor (TCR), and Löfgren’s syndrome. As vimentin is a known antigenic target in B-cell-mediated autoimmunity, we investigated in situ humoral anti-vimentin responses in pulmonary sarcoidosis and their relationship with HLA-DRB1*03. Sarcoid and healthy control (HC) lung biopsies were analyzed by multi-color confocal microscopy for B-cells, T-cells, proliferation, and vimentin, and compared to tonsillectomy tissue. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum from 48 sarcoidosis patients and 15 healthy volunteers were typed for HLA-DRB1*03 and titrated for antibodies to full-length vimentin, vimentin truncations, and total IgG and IgA by ELISA. Presence of extracellular vimentin in BALF was determined by mass spectrometry and T-cell populations measured by flow cytometry. Sarcoid lung samples, especially from HLA-DRB1*03+ patients, contained vimentin-rich tertiary lymphoid structures and corresponding BALF was highly enriched for both IgG and IgA anti-vimentin antibody (AVA) titers. Furthermore, sarcoidosis patient BALF AVA concentrations (expressed as arbitrary units per milligram of total immunoglobulin isotype) correlated with the percentage of CD4+ T-cells expressing the Vα2.3/Vβ22 TCR. BALF antibody reactivity to the vimentin N-terminus was most prominent in HCs, whereas reactivity to the C-terminus (VimC-term) was enriched in the sarcoid lung. Specifically, HLA-DRB1*03+ patient BALF contained higher concentrations of anti-VimC-term antibodies than BALF from both HCs and HLA-DRB1*03− patients. Consistent with the lung as a site of AVA production, the concentration of AVAs in BALF was dramatically higher than in matched serum samples. Overall, there was a poor correlation between BALF and serum AVA concentrations. Together, these studies reveal the presence of linked in situ recognition of vimentin by both T- and B-cells in HLA-DRB1*03+ sarcoidosis patients, associated with a selective humoral immune response to the vimentin C-terminus.

Objective Scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) is an HDL receptor. Recent studies revealed that SR-BI protects against sepsis via modulating innate immunity. However, its role in adaptive immunity is unclear. Methods and Results SR-BI null mice exhibited impaired lymphocyte homeostasis as shown by splenomegaly and imbalanced expansion of T and B lymphocytes in the spleens. Importantly, the activated T and B lymphocytes were increased 3–4-fold, indicating a heightened active status of T and B lymphocytes. More importantly, in line with the accumulation of the activated T and B lymphocytes, SR-BI null mice developed systemic autoimmune disorders characterized by the presence of autoantibodies in circulation, the deposition of immune complexes in glomeruli, and the leukocyte infiltration in kidney. Further analyses revealed that SR-BI deficiency enhances lymphocyte proliferation, causes imbalanced IFN-g and IL-4 production in lymphocytes and elevated inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages. Furthermore, HDL from SR-BI null mice exhibited less capability of suppressing lymphocyte proliferation. Conclusions SR-BI regulates lymphocyte homeostasis likely through its roles in modulating the proliferation of lymphocytes, the cytokine production by lymphocytes and macrophages, and the function of HDL. Its deficiency leads to impaired lymphocyte homeostasis and autoimmune disorders. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role of SR-BI in adaptive immunity.