Distinct role of surface lymphotoxin expressed by B cells in the organization of secondary lymphoid tissues

Alexei V. Tumanov, Dmitry V. Kuprash, Maria A. Lagarkova, Sergei I. Grivennikov, Koichiro Abe, Alexander N. Shakhov, Ludmila N. Drutskaya, Colin L. Stewart, Alexander V. Chervonsky, Sergei A. Nedospasov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

185 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to definitively ascertain the functional contribution of lymphotoxin (LT) expressed by B cells, we produced mice with the LTβ gene deleted from B cells (B-LTβ KO mice). In contrast to systemic LTβ deletion, in B-LTβ KO mice only splenic microarchitecture was affected, while lymph nodes and Peyer's patches (PP) were normal, except for PP's reduced size. Even though B-LTβ KO spleens retained a small number of follicular dendritic cells (FDC) which appeared to be dependent on LTβ produced by T cells, IgG responses to sheep red blood cells were markedly reduced. Thus, the organogenic function of B-LTβ is almost entirely restricted to spleen, where it supports the correct lymphoid architecture that is critical for an effective humoral immune response.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)239-250
Number of pages12
JournalImmunity
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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