Affinitásmaturáció

Affinitásmaturáció, also known as affinity maturation, is a biological process that enhances the binding strength of antibodies to their target antigens. This process is crucial for the development of a robust and effective adaptive immune response. It occurs primarily within germinal centers, specialized microenvironments found in secondary lymphoid organs like lymph nodes and the spleen.

The process begins when B cells, which have been activated by encountering their specific antigen, migrate into germinal centers. Here, they undergo rapid proliferation and somatic hypermutation, a process that introduces random point mutations into the genes encoding the antibody's variable regions. These mutations can alter the antibody's affinity for the antigen.

Following somatic hypermutation, B cells compete for binding to antigen presented by follicular dendritic cells. B cells with higher affinity antibodies are more efficient at capturing and internalizing the antigen, a signal that they receive survival and differentiation signals. B cells with lower affinity antibodies are less successful in this competition and typically undergo apoptosis.

This selective pressure leads to a population of B cells producing antibodies with progressively higher affinity for the antigen over time. The outcome of affinity maturation is the generation of high-affinity antibodies that can neutralize pathogens more effectively and contribute to long-term immunological memory.