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Nanoparticles reveal permanent and reversible changes to lymph node biomechanics during inflammatory response
Ann Ramirez1, Vedanth Sriram1,2, Yassmin Abbouchi1
1Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|March 10, 2025
Summary
Lymph node biomechanics change during inflammation, with T cell zones stiffening significantly. Biological sex impacts these changes, as female mice exhibit increased stiffness while males show decreased stiffness post-inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biophysics
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Lymph nodes are crucial immune organs where lymphocytes encounter antigens, initiating adaptive immune responses.
- Lymph node structure and material properties change during inflammation to accommodate immune cell proliferation.
- The biophysical properties of lymph nodes during inflammation are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biophysical properties of lymph nodes during acute inflammation and resolution using multiple particle tracking microrheology.
- To understand how inflammation alters lymph node mechanics, including elastic/loss moduli, microviscosity, and pore size.
- To explore the influence of biological sex on lymph node biomechanics during inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT), a nanoparticle-based technique.
- Analyzed biophysical properties such as elastic/loss moduli, microviscosity, and pore size in lymph nodes post-inflammatory stimulus.
- Compared biomechanical changes in T cell and B cell rich areas, and between male and female mice.
Main Results:
- T cell zones showed a significant remodeling with a ~3-fold increase in elastic modulus.
- Biological sex modulated lymph node biomechanics: female mice showed a ~20-fold increase in moduli, while male mice showed a ~5-fold decrease.
- Female lymph nodes maintained higher moduli post-inflammation, suggesting permanent remodeling, while male lymph nodes returned to baseline.
Conclusions:
- Inflammation significantly alters lymph node biomechanics, with distinct remodeling in T cell zones.
- Biological sex plays a critical role in modulating lymph node mechanical responses to inflammation.
- Changes in biomechanical properties correlate with extracellular matrix alterations, indicating structure-function relationships in immune responses.
