T cell accumulation in B cell follicles is regulated by dendritic cells and is independent of B cell activation

J Exp Med. 2003 Jan 20;197(2):195-206. doi: 10.1084/jem.20021750.

Abstract

We investigated the mechanism of CD4 T cell accumulation in B cell follicles after immunization. Follicular T cell numbers were correlated with the number of B cells, indicating B cell control of the niche that T cells occupy. Despite this, we found no role for B cells in the follicular migration of T cells. Instead, T cells are induced to migrate into B cell follicles entirely as a result of interaction with dendritic cells (DCs). Migration relies on CD40-dependent maturation of DCs, as it did not occur in CD40-deficient mice but was reconstituted with CD40(+) DCs. Restoration was not achieved by the activation of DCs with bacterial activators (e.g., lipopolysaccharide, CpG), but was by the injection of OX40L-huIgG1 fusion protein. Crucially, the up-regulation of OX40L (on antigen-presenting cells) and CXCR-5 (on T cells) are CD40-dependent events and we show that T cells do not migrate to follicles in immunized OX40-deficient mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD40 Antigens / genetics
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD40 Ligand / metabolism
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dinitrophenols / immunology
  • Immunization
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphoid Tissue / cytology
  • Lymphoid Tissue / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • OX40 Ligand
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Receptors, CXCR5
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors

Substances

  • CD40 Antigens
  • CXCR5 protein, mouse
  • Dinitrophenols
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • OX40 Ligand
  • Receptors, CXCR5
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Tnfsf4 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors
  • dinitrophenol-ovalbumin
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Ovalbumin