How key immune cells are born
Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) play a critical role in allowing us to fight infections and create a strong armory of antibodies for future use. Image: Eraxion/iStockphoto A Sydney-based scientist has demonstrated for the first time how an important class of immune cells, essential for the development of antibodies, comes into being.‘Follicular dendritic cells’ (FDCs) play a critical role in allowing us to fight infections and create a strong armory of antibodies for future use.FDCs first make sure that our antibody-generating B cells receive samples of an invading organism. They then help to identify and nurture the B cells that manufacture the highest quality antibodies.Many of our immune cells, including B cells, are white blood cells and so arise out of stem cells in bone marrow. FDCs are not blood cells, and their origin has been a mystery until now.Scientists have been able to see FDCs in tonsils, spleen and lymph nodes –...