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Dendritic cells control lymphocyte entry to lymph nodes through high endothelial venules
Christine Moussion1, Jean-Philippe Girard
1CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, 205 route de Narbonne, F-31077 Toulouse, France.
Nature
|November 15, 2011
Summary
Dendritic cells (DCs) control lymphocyte entry into lymph nodes by regulating blood vessel maturation. This discovery reveals a new role for DCs in immune surveillance and lymphocyte recirculation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Naive lymphocytes continuously recirculate through lymph nodes for immune surveillance.
- The mechanisms regulating lymphocyte recirculation during homeostasis are not fully understood.
- High endothelial venules (HEVs) are specialized blood vessels crucial for lymphocyte recruitment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in regulating lymphocyte recirculation.
- To determine how DCs influence the phenotype of high endothelial venules (HEVs).
Main Methods:
- In vivo depletion of CD11c(+) dendritic cells (DCs) in adult mice.
- Assessment of lymph node size, cellularity, and HEV phenotype.
- Co-culture experiments of DCs and HEV endothelial cells.
- Analysis of lymphotoxin-β-receptor signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Depletion of DCs reduced lymph node size and cellularity.
- Absence of DCs caused HEVs to revert to an immature phenotype, inhibiting lymphocyte recruitment.
- DCs directly modulate HEV endothelial cells via lymphotoxin-β-receptor signaling.
Conclusions:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in maintaining the mature HEV phenotype.
- DC-derived lymphotoxin is essential for lymphocyte homing to lymph nodes.
- DCs are key regulators of lymphocyte recirculation and immune surveillance.
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