Affinity maturation in ectopic germinal centers

It is becoming clear that a precisely structured lymphoid tissue is essential for the establishment of an antigen specific immune response. The differentiation of the antigen activated lymphocyte into effector cells requires a well organized microenvironment in which the antigen specific and the antigen presenting cells come into close physical contact. The central role of cytokines in lymphoid organogenesis and the important function of chemokines for guided cell movement into and within the secondary lymphoid organs are just emerging