IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Aging disrupts the affinity threshold for naïve B cell germinal center participation

Aging disrupts the affinity threshold for naïve B cell germinal center participation

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Video Summary

The speaker described research on how aging intrinsically alters naive B cells and weakens vaccine responses in mice. Using a transfer system that places young or old follicular B cells into young B-cell–deficient mice, the group found that old B cells produce fewer antigen-specific germinal center (GC) B cells and less IgG, even though they generate larger GCs overall. Single-cell RNA and BCR sequencing showed that old and young GC cells look transcriptomically similar, but they select different antibody clonotypes. In the NP model, old GCs expanded lower-quality antibody lineages while losing the best germline pairing. Recombinant antibody testing confirmed that these old-GC antibodies bind NP but with lower affinity. The team suggests aging increases tonic BCR signaling in naive B cells, lowering the activation threshold and allowing poorer B cells to dominate GC responses.

Meta Tag

Date April 19, 2026 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Room 151

Session Regulation of B Cell Responses

Speaker Braxton Greer

Track Immune Response Regulation: Molecular Mechanisms (IRM)

Year 2026

Keywords

aging

naive B cells

germinal center

vaccine response

antibody affinity

April 19, 2026 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

151

Regulation of B Cell Responses

Braxton Greer

Immune Response Regulation: Molecular Mechanisms (IRM)

2026