Introduction to the Proceedings of the 12Th Germinal Centre Conference — Thirty Years of Germinal Centre Conferences
Introduction to the Proceedings of the 12th Germinal Centre Conference
Thirty Years of Germinal Centre Conferences 0
0 aDepartment of Histology and Cell Biology, University of Groningen , Groningen , The Netherlands
P. NIEUWENHUISa* *Corresponding author: Chairman, Scientific Committee for Germinal Centre Conferences.
-
"In Vivo Veritas": Under this motto, the twelfth
socalled Germinal Centre Conference was held in Graz,
Austria, July 1 to 5, 1996, with Prof. Konrad
Schauenstein chairing the organizing committee, with
the assistance of Dr. Richard Boyd (Australia).
Despite the progress that is being made using in
vitro models, some immunologists believe that "the
proof of the pudding is in the eating", that is, to
understand the physiology of the immune system as it
operates under in vivo conditions is to understand it
all.
In 1966, the first conference on Germinal Centres
in Immune Responses was held in Bern, Switzerland,
at the initiative of C.C. Congdon (Oak Ridge, TN) and
H. Cottier (Bern, Switzerland), and included 57
presentations, "which were discussed at length".
"The range of interest extended from phylogenesis
and anatomy to studies on cell proliferation,
immunohistochemistry, cancer research and radiobiology.
"The aim of this broad coverage was to combine all
available information on the role of germinal centers
in immune responses in a single package, instead of
leaving it scattered around in reports dealing with
divergent immunological problems"
(Cottier et al.,
1967)
.
As this meeting, at least to the opinion of those
attending, was quite successful, a next meeting was
scheduled for 1968 to be held in Padua, Italy, where,
in 1604, Hieronymus Fabricius gave the first
description of what was later called the Bursa of Fabricius in
his honor.
As it had become apparent that Germinal Centers
were not the only site of reactivity following antigen
administration, the scope of interest broadened and
hence the title of these meetings changed into
"Conference on Lymphatic Tissue and Germinal
Centers in Immune Reactions".
In the index of the Proceedings of the 3rd GCC,
held in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1970, for the first time "B
cells" are mentioned and T cells are still referred to as
"Thymus-derived cells", even though in some
presentations, the term "T cells" is already being used.
Once these cells and their pivotal role in immune
responses had been recognized, a shift to an even
R NIEUWENHUIS
broader interest in the histophysiology of the immune
system was just a small step. However, the original
name Germinal Centre Conference lingered on and
stuck to these meetings. Essentially, germinal centers
symbolize morphological entities that wax and wane
in the course of an immune response, the function of
which cannot be mimicked in in vitro experiments.
Also these meetings function as "germinal centres",
stimulating new concepts as only plenary sessions are
held and much time is devoted to "social"
interactions. From this point of view, it was good to see
that so many young scientists participated in the last
meeting, indicating that "In Vivo Immunology" is
very much alive and kicking!
Already plans for the next meeting are in progress.
The 13th GCC will be held in Switzerland,
presumably early in July 1999. Dr Marie Kosco-Vilbois
(whose address is Glaxo Institute for Molecular
Biology, 20C chemin des Aulx, CH-1228
Plan-lesOuates, Geneva, Switzerland) has kindly undertaken
the not so easy task of organizing this meeting to try
and surpass previous GCCs.
Finally, on behalf of the Scientific Committee, I
would once more like to thank Prof. Konrad
Schauenstein and his team for organizing a great meeting, both
scientifically as well as socially. Memories of the 12th
GCC will linger on in our minds as well as in our
hearts. "In Vivo Veritas!"
Acknowledgements
Members of the Scientific Committee included G.
Klaus, S. Fossum, B.A. Imhoff, E. Heinen, K.
Schauenstein, R.L. Boyd, D.G. Osmond, and G.J.
Thorbecke.
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Cottier H. , et al. ( 1967 ). Proceedings of a Symposium on Germinal Centers in Immune Responses (Berlin Heidelberg New York, Springer-Verlag), p. v . (...truncated)