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Extracellular matrix of secondary lymphoid organs impacts on B-cell fate and survival

Jian Song1, Zerina Lokmic, Tim Lämmermann

  • 1Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Muenster University, 48149 Muenster, Germany.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 13, 2013
PubMed

We describe a unique extracellular matrix (ECM) niche in the spleen, the marginal zone (MZ), characterized by the basement membrane glycoproteins, laminin α5 and agrin, that promotes formation of a specialized population of MZ B lymphocytes that respond rapidly to blood-borne antigens. Mice with reduced laminin α5 expression show reduced MZ B cells and increased numbers of newly formed (NF) transitional B cells that migrate from the bone marrow, without changes in other immune or stromal cell compartments. Transient integrin α6β1-mediated interaction of NF B cells with laminin α5 in the MZ supports the MZ B-cell population, their long-term survival, and antibody response. Data suggest that the unique 3D structure and biochemical composition of the ECM of lymphoid organs impacts on immune cell fate.

Keywords:
B-cell developmentimmunology

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