%A Kenter,Amy L. %A Watson,Corey T. %A Spille,Jan-Hendrik %D 2021 %J Frontiers in Immunology %C %F %G English %K Chromatin,B cell,immunoglobulin,VDJ recombination,VDJ repertoire %Q %R 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682589 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2021-May-18 %9 Perspective %+ Dr Amy L. Kenter,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois College of Medicine,United States,star1@uic.edu %# %! Igh locus topology determines repertoire %* %< %T Igh Locus Polymorphism May Dictate Topological Chromatin Conformation and V Gene Usage in the Ig Repertoire %U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.682589 %V 12 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1664-3224 %X Vast repertoires of unique antigen receptors are created in developing B and T lymphocytes. The antigen receptor loci contain many variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) gene segments that are arrayed across very large genomic expanses and are joined to form variable-region exons of expressed immunoglobulins and T cell receptors. This process creates the potential for an organism to respond to large numbers of different pathogens. Here, we consider the possibility that genetic polymorphisms with alterations in a vast array of regulatory elements in the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus lead to changes in locus topology and impact immune-repertoire formation.