Centrocyte

In immunology, a centrocyte generally refers to a B cell with a cleaved nucleus,[1] as may appear in e.g. follicular lymphoma.

Once these centroblasts are stimulated, they no longer divide, and proceed to move to the light zone of germinal centers.

[5]  In the light zone, T follicular helper cells mediate centrocyte selection through CD40L and provide them with pro-survival signals.

[7]  The remaining centrocytes undergo apoptosis or return to the centroblast pool for further somatic hypermutation.

Centrocytes that do not recognize antigen properly due to an altered B cell receptor will undergo apoptosis.

Histopathology of centrocytes in a follicular lymphoma . They have a thick nuclear membrane and prominent nucleoli .
Histologic comparison of cell types in a germinal center , H&E stain:
- Centrocytes are small to medium size with angulated, elongated, cleaved, or twisted nuclei.
- Centroblasts are larger cells containing vesicular nuclei with one to three basophilic nucleoli apposing the nuclear membrane.
- Follicular dendritic cells have round nuclei, centrally located nucleoli, bland and dispersed chromatin, and flattening of adjacent nuclear membrane.