Reactive murine lymph nodes uniquely permit parenchymal access for T cells that enter via the afferent lymphatics

• Published in: The Journal of pathology 2012-04, Vol.226 (5), p.806-813
• Main Authors: Eidsmo, Liv, Stock, Angus T, Heath, William R, Bedoui, Sammy, Carbone, Francis R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adoptive Transfer; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; cell migration; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Disease Models, Animal; Fingolimod Hydrochloride; Genes, T-Cell Receptor; Herpes Simplex - genetics; Herpes Simplex - immunology; Herpes Simplex - virology; Herpesvirus 1, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 1, Human - pathogenicity; high endothelial venules; HSV; Immunosuppressive Agents - pharmacology; Infectious diseases; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); lymph nodes; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Lymph Nodes - virology; lymphatic sinuses; Lymphatic Vessels - immunology; Lymphatic Vessels - virology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Propylene Glycols - pharmacology; Skin - immunology; Skin - virology; Sphingosine - analogs & derivatives; Sphingosine - pharmacology; T cells; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - transplantation; T-Lymphocytes - virology; Time Factors; Viral diseases; viral infection
• ISSN: 0022-3417; 1096-9896; 1096-9896
• DOI: 10.1002/path.3975

Whereas naïve T cells access the lymph nodes predominantly via the high endothelial venules, their effector counterparts can also enter via the afferent lymphatics. It is unclear if such cells are confined to the lymphatic spaces during their transit through the lymph node or whether they can access the lymphocyte‐ and dendritic cell‐rich parenchyma with its potentially stimulatory environment. We used a flank HSV inoculation model that featured neuronal‐mediated movement of virus to distinct areas of skin to study the lymphatic‐mediated transit of activated T cells between different skin‐draining lymph nodes. These experiments showed that activated T cells released from the brachial lymph node, draining the primary site of inoculation, entered the downstream axillary lymph node. These activated T cells accessed the subcapsular areas of the axillary lymph node via lymphatic vessels exiting the upstream brachial node regardless of whether the former drained skin that was associated with active infection. However, T cells remained within the sinusoidal network of the axillary lymph node unless it was directly associated with peripheral infection. Thus, activated T cells that enter a given lymph node using the afferent lymphatics do not have automatic access to the parenchyma unless it is a reactive node involved with peripheral inflammation or infection. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.