Ectopic LT alpha beta directs lymphoid organ neogenesis with concomitant expression of peripheral node addressin and a HEV-restricted sulfotransferase

J Exp Med. 2003 May 5;197(9):1153-63. doi: 10.1084/jem.20021761.

Abstract

Lymph node (LN) function depends on T and B cell compartmentalization, antigen presenting cells, and high endothelial venules (HEVs) expressing mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM-1) and peripheral node addressin (PNAd), ligands for naive cell entrance into LNs. Luminal PNAd expression requires a HEV-restricted sulfotransferase (HEC-6ST). To investigate LT alpha beta's activities in lymphoid organogenesis, mice simultaneously expressing LT alpha and LT beta under rat insulin promoter II (RIP) control were compared with RIPLT alpha mice in a model of lymphoid neogenesis and with LT beta-/- mice. RIPLT alpha beta pancreata exhibited massive intra-islet mononuclear infiltrates that differed from the more sparse peri-islet cell accumulations in RIPLT alpha pancreata: separation into T and B cell areas was more distinct with prominent FDC networks, expression of lymphoid chemokines (CCL21, CCL19, and CXCL13) was more intense, and L-selectin+ cells were more frequent. In contrast to the predominant abluminal PNAd pattern of HEV in LT beta-/- MLN and RIPLT alpha pancreatic infiltrates, PNAd was expressed at the luminal and abluminal aspects of HEV in wild-type LN and in RIPLT alpha beta pancreata, coincident with HEC-6ST. These data highlight distinct roles of LT alpha and LT alpha beta in lymphoid organogenesis supporting the notion that HEC-6ST-dependent luminal PNAd is under regulation by LT alpha beta.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoid Tissue / embryology*
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / physiology*
  • Lymphotoxin-beta
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Sulfotransferases / biosynthesis
  • Sulfotransferases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ltb protein, mouse
  • Ltb protein, rat
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha
  • Lymphotoxin-beta
  • Membrane Proteins
  • HEV-specific LSST
  • Sulfotransferases