The presentation of antigen by germinal-center B cells to follicular T cells engenders the process of antibody affinity maturation and humoral memory. Pierce and colleagues show that TLR9 signaling in B cells antagonizes B cell–mediated antigen presentation, which leads to the enhanced generation of short-lived plasma cells and the production of lower-affinity antibodies.
- Munir Akkaya
- Billur Akkaya
- Susan K. Pierce