Global lymphoid tissue remodeling during a viral infection is orchestrated by a B cell–lymphotoxin-dependent pathway

V Kumar, E Scandella, R Danuser… - Blood, The Journal …, 2010 - ashpublications.org
V Kumar, E Scandella, R Danuser, L Onder, M Nitschké, Y Fukui, C Halin, B Ludewig
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2010ashpublications.org
Adaptive immune responses are characterized by substantial restructuring of secondary
lymphoid organs. The molecular and cellular factors responsible for virus-induced lymphoid
remodeling are not well known to date. Here we applied optical projection tomography, a
mesoscopic imaging technique, for a global analysis of the entire 3-dimensional structure of
mouse peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs), focusing on B-cell areas and high endothelial
venule (HEV) networks. Structural homeostasis of PLNs was characterized by a strict …
Abstract
Adaptive immune responses are characterized by substantial restructuring of secondary lymphoid organs. The molecular and cellular factors responsible for virus-induced lymphoid remodeling are not well known to date. Here we applied optical projection tomography, a mesoscopic imaging technique, for a global analysis of the entire 3-dimensional structure of mouse peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs), focusing on B-cell areas and high endothelial venule (HEV) networks. Structural homeostasis of PLNs was characterized by a strict correlation between total PLN volume, B-cell volume, B-cell follicle number, and HEV length. After infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, we observed a substantial, lymphotoxin (LT) β-receptor–dependent reorganization of the PLN microarchitecture, in which an initial B-cell influx was followed by 3-fold increases in PLN volume and HEV network length on day 8 after infection. Adoptive transfer experiments revealed that virus-induced PLN and HEV network remodeling required LTα1β2-expressing B cells, whereas the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor-A signaling pathways had no significant effect on PLN expansion. In summary, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-induced PLN growth depends on a vascular endothelial growth factor-A–independent, LT- and B cell–dependent morphogenic pathway, as revealed by an in-depth mesoscopic analysis of the global PLN structure.
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