Cutting edge: nonproliferating mature immune cells form a novel type of organized lymphoid structure in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

J Immunol. 2006 May 15;176(10):5735-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.176.10.5735.

Abstract

Ectopic formation of secondary lymphoid tissue is initiated by the local attraction of naive T and B cells. In this study, we describe a novel type of organized lymphoid structure in the lung of human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with key features of lymphoid neogenesis, including: 1) recently activated CD40 ligand (CD40L)+ T cells; 2) variable numbers of activated CD40+/CD40L+ B cells, sometimes organized in follicles; 3) fully mature dendritic cells (DC) expressing CD40, CD83, CD86, and DC-lysosome-associated membrane protein; 4) the expression of the chemokine CCL21; 5) the presence of vessels with characteristics of high endothelial venules; and 6) a dense network of follicular DC. Surprisingly, these structures are devoid of CCR7+ naive T cells, proliferating lymphocytes, and germinal centers, suggesting that newly recruited activated DC and Ag-experienced lymphocytes can drive lymphoid neogenesis and that factors present within the lymphoid aggregates, such as CD40L, are essential to induce DC maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chemokines / biosynthesis
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / immunology*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Chemokines