Germinal center B cells separate signals for selectionand division like compact discs

Selection of B cells in germinal center (GC) reactions is pivotal to the generation of high affinity antibodies and memory B cells. Knowledge about B cell selection is limited to individual interactions and lacks global understanding. Here, seemingly contradictory experiments are unified in a common concept by separation of signals for the frequency of fate decision from the strength of cell division, which can then be controlled independently, similar to the separation of frequency and amplitude in digital audio signals. Based on this concept of information processing, three theories of B cell selection are developed that can be distinguish by predicted experiments drawn from computer simulations. Understanding encoding of information in molecular states is critical for targeted immune interventions.