None of the genes involved in germinal center function (like BCL6, AID, CD10) were found to be more expressed in meningeal B cell follicle-like structures suggesting that these do not reach the level of functional organization of ectopic B cell follicles with germinal centers present in chronically inflamed tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and autoimmune thyroiditis [54]. This evidence concerns the gene BCL6 and autoimmune thyroid disease.