Centrocyte

Histopathology of centrocytes in a follicular lymphoma. They have a thick nuclear membrane and prominent nucleoli.

In immunology, a centrocyte generally refers to a B cell with a cleaved nucleus,[1] as may appear in e.g. follicular lymphoma.[2] Centrocytes are B cells that are found in the light zones of germinal centers. Centrocytes are the non-dividing progeny of centroblasts, and although they are relatively similar in size, centrocytes lack distinct nucleoli and are more irregularly shaped than centroblasts.[3] Centrocytes also express the cell-surface hypermutated B-cell receptor following AID activation. This hypermutated B-cell receptor allows centrocytes to compete for binding of the antigen, internalize it, and then express the processed peptides through their MHC class II receptor.[4] Centrocyte can also refer to a cell with a protoplasm that contains single and double granules of varying size stainable with hematoxylin, as seen in lesions of lichen planus,[1] or a nondividing, activated B cell that expresses membrane immunoglobulin.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Definition: 'Centrocyte'". Stedman's Medical Dictionary. 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30.
  2. ^ Table 12-8 in: Mitchell RS, Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N (2007). Robbins Basic Pathology. Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4160-2973-1. 8th edition.
  3. ^ Young NA, Al-Saleem T (January 2008). "Lymph nodes: Cytomorphology and flow cytometry". Comprehensive Cytopathology. WB Saunders. pp. 671–711. doi:10.1016/b978-141604208-2.10024-7. ISBN 9781416042082.
  4. ^ Kelsoe G (February 1996). "Life and death in germinal centers (redux)". Immunity. 4 (2): 107–11. doi:10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80675-5. PMID 8624801.