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Published on: March 28, 2014
Biochemical changes in the efferent lymph plasma after oxazolone stimulation
Charles A West1, George A Fischer, Alan J Young
1Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Surgical Research Laboratories, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Insights
Antigen stimulation selectively increases cholesterol and LDH in lymph plasma during lymph node enlargement. These biochemical changes offer a practical measure of immune response to antigen exposure.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Lymph nodes are critical microenvironments for regulating immune responses.
- The lymph node's reticular network supports cell interactions and lymph fluid flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate biochemical alterations in lymph plasma following antigen stimulation.
- To establish a practical measure for assessing lymph node immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Prescapular lymph nodes in sheep were stimulated with the epicutaneous antigen oxazolone.
- Efferent lymph was collected and monitored for over 120 hours.
- Lymph plasma biochemical composition was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Oxazolone stimulation led to a selective increase in lymph plasma cholesterol during lymph node enlargement.
- A significant rise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration followed the cholesterol peak.
- No significant changes were observed in triglycerides, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, or alanine transferase levels.
Conclusions:
- Selective biochemical changes in efferent lymph reflect lymphocyte activation dynamics.
- Cholesterol and LDH levels in lymph plasma can serve as practical indicators of lymph node response to antigen stimulation.
Abstract:
The lymph node is a specialized microenvironment for the regulation of immune responses. The reticular network of the lymph node provides a structure that facilitates not only intercellular interactions, but the intranodal flow of lymph fluid. To assess biochemical changes in the nodal lymph plasma after antigen stimulation, prescapular lymph nodes in sheep were stimulated with the epicutaneous antigen oxazolone. The efferent lymph from both antigen-stimulated and contralateral control prescapular lymph nodes was continuously monitored for more than 120 h. The oxazolone-stimulated lymph plasma was associated with a selective increase in cholesterol content during the 'recruitment' phase of lymph node enlargement. The peak in cholesterol was followed closely by a significant increase in lymph plasma LDH concentration. In contrast, there was no significant difference between oxazolone-stimulated and control lymph plasma in the concentration of triglycerides, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine transferase. These selective biochemical changes in the efferent lymph appeared to reflect the dynamics of lymphocyte activation within the lymph node as well as provide a practical measure of the lymph node response to antigen stimulation.
