Affinity maturation
Affinity Maturation
Affinity maturation (pronunciation: /əˈfɪnɪti məˌtjʊəˈreɪʃən/) is a biological process that improves the strength of the interaction between an antibody and its antigen over time. This process is a key component of the immune response and is crucial for the body's ability to fight off infections and diseases.
Etymology
The term "affinity maturation" is derived from the Latin words "affinitas" meaning "relationship" and "maturatio" meaning "ripening". It refers to the "ripening" or improvement of the "relationship" between an antibody and its antigen.
Process
Affinity maturation occurs in the germinal centers of lymph nodes following an immune response. It involves two main processes: somatic hypermutation and clonal selection.
Somatic hypermutation introduces random mutations into the variable regions of the antibody genes, creating a pool of antibodies with slightly different antigen-binding sites.
Clonal selection then selects for the cells producing antibodies with the highest affinity for the antigen. These cells are preferentially expanded and differentiate into memory B cells and plasma cells, which can produce high-affinity antibodies more rapidly in response to future encounters with the same antigen.
Related Terms
- Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system that recognizes and binds to specific antigens.
- Antigen: A substance that triggers an immune response when detected by the body.
- Immune response: The body's defensive reaction to foreign substances or organisms.
- Germinal center: A region within lymph nodes where B cells mature and undergo affinity maturation.
- Somatic hypermutation: A process that introduces random mutations into the variable regions of antibody genes.
- Clonal selection: The process by which cells producing high-affinity antibodies are preferentially expanded.
- Memory B cell: A type of B cell that can rapidly produce high-affinity antibodies in response to future encounters with the same antigen.
- Plasma cell: A type of B cell that produces and secretes antibodies.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Affinity maturation
- Wikipedia's article - Affinity maturation
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