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

J Song, Z Lokmic, T Lämmermann… - Proceedings of the …, 2013 - National Acad Sciences
J Song, Z Lokmic, T Lämmermann, J Rolf, C Wu, X Zhang, R Hallmann, MJ Hannocks…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013National Acad Sciences
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 …
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.
National Acad Sciences