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Ectopic lymphoid structures in the aged lacrimal glands.
Jeremias G Galletti1, Kaitlin K Scholand2, Claudia M Trujillo-Vargas3
1Ocular Surface Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Institute of Experimental Medicine (CONICET), National Academy of Medicine of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.)
|February 5, 2023
Summary
Aging significantly alters the lacrimal gland (LG) immune environment, increasing B cells and ectopic lymphoid structures. These age-related immune changes in the LG warrant further investigation into B cell function.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Aging Research
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Aging is linked to pathological changes in organs.
- Aged C57BL/6J mice exhibit increased lymphoid infiltrates in lacrimal glands (LGs), suggesting ectopic lymphoid structures.
- These age-related ectopic lymphoid structures in LGs require further characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the transcriptome of aged murine LGs.
- To characterize the B and T cell populations within aged murine LGs.
- To investigate age-related immune changes in the LG.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome analysis of aged murine LGs.
- Flow cytometry to characterize B and T cell populations.
- Comparison with a mouse model of Sjögren syndrome and diverse outbred mice.
Main Results:
- Increased differentially expressed genes related to B and T cell activation and germinal center formation in aged LGs.
- An age-related increase in B1+ cells and CD19+B220+ (GL7+) cells, identified as marginal zone-like B cells.
- Upregulation of T follicular helper cell transcripts and increased cell numbers with age.
- Transcriptome similarities and unique responses compared to Sjögren syndrome models.
- Immune infiltration observed in aged diverse outbred mice, indicating non-strain-specific changes.
Conclusions:
- Aged LGs exhibit a significant shift in their immune landscape, with B cells becoming predominant.
- Ectopic lymphoid structures are a common feature of aging in LGs across different mouse backgrounds.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific functions of these age-associated B cells in LGs.
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