T and B cells have similar recirculation kinetics in sheep

Local and systemic autonomic nervous effects on cell migration to the spleen

This work is based on the hypothesis that sympathetic nerves regulate the uptake of circulating cells by the spleen by affecting splenic blood flow and that the quantity of cells sequestered depends on whether changes in noradrenergic transmission occur at local or systemic levels. Fluorescently labeled lymphoid cells were injected into rats, and organ blood flow was measured by the microsphere method. Increased retention of cells in the spleen paralleled by increased blood flow was detected after local denervation of this organ or administration of bacterial endotoxin. A comparable enhanced splenic blood flow was observed after general sympathectomy. However, the redistribution of blood perfusion during general vasodilatation resulted in deviation of leukocyte flow from the spleen, thus resulting in reduced uptake of cells by this organ. These results indicate that, although the uptake of cells by the spleen depends on arterial blood supply, enhanced perfusion does not always result in increased cell sequestration because general vasodilatation reduces cell uptake by this organ and even overrides stimulatory effects of endotoxin.

Postnatal development of lymphocyte subpopulations in the intestinal lymph nodes in goats

The incidence and location of CD2+, CD4+, CD8+ and gamma/delta T lymphocytes and IgM+ B lymphocytes were studied in the intestinal lymph nodes in 1-week, 1-month, 3-month and 7-month-old goats, using monoclonal antibodies and immunohistochemical methods. The cortical area of the intestinal lymph nodes in 1-week-old animals contains only primary follicles occupied by IgM+ B lymphocytes and some CD2+ CD4+ T lymphocytes. In goats older than 1 month, secondary follicles, that increased in number and size with age, were observed; the light zone of the germinal centre was occupied by IgM+ lymphocytes and some CD2+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes. In the other compartments of the lymph nodes, B lymphocytes were scarce, their number increasing with age in the medulla and diminishing in the paracortex. The numerous CD2+ T lymphocytes in the interfollicular area increased in number in the paracortical area of the 7-month-old goats, simultaneously with an increase in the MHC II+ dendritic cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio, which was greater than 1. The gamma/delta T lymphocytes represented a minor subpopulation scattered through the lymph nodes.

Intrinsic Differences in L-Selectin Expression Levels Affect T and B Lymphocyte Subset-Specific Recirculation Pathways

Lymphocyte migration into lymphoid organs is regulated by tissue-specific adhesion molecules such as L-selectin and the α4β7 integrin. Whether L-selectin also regulates lymphocyte subset-specific migration into specific lymphoid tissues was examined in this study by comparing the migration of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells from L-selectin-deficient and wild-type mice. T cells were the predominant lymphocyte subset entering PLN, MLN, Peyer’s patches, and spleen during short term (1-h) migration assays. However, both B cell and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell entries into PLN, MLN, and Peyer’s patches were dramatically impaired (73–98%) by loss of L-selectin. Lymphocyte expression of α4β7 integrin did not compensate for the loss of L-selectin, since both B and T cells predominantly migrated into the spleen in the absence of L-selectin. The more efficient migration of T cells into peripheral lymphoid tissues relative to that of B cells was partly explained by the finding that T cells expressed L-selectin at 50 to 100% higher levels than B cells. In addition, a 50% reduction in L-selectin expression by lymphocytes from hemizygous L-selectin+/− mice resulted in a 50 to 70% decrease in short term lymphocyte migration into peripheral lymphoid tissues relative to that of wild-type lymphocytes. Thus, the differential migration of T and B lymphocyte subsets to lymphoid tissues is regulated in part by subset-specific differences in L-selectin expression levels.

The Relationship of Blood Lymphocytes to the Recirculating Lymphocyte Pool

Lymphocyte recirculation facilitates the detection and elimination of pathogens and the dissemination of immunologic memory. It is generally assumed that all small lymphocytes in the blood are actively recirculating, yet there is little quantitative data directly comparing the migration of this population with actively recirculating, lymph-derived lymphocytes. In this study blood lymphocytes were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and lymph lymphocytes were labeled with CM-DiI, reinfused intravenously, and monitored in blood and lymph. After equilibration the concentration of blood lymphocytes was several times higher in blood than in lymph, whereas lymph lymphocytes displayed the opposite behavior. This suggested that blood lymphocytes did not recirculate as efficiently as lymph lymphocytes, so we examined the following blood lymphocyte subsets in greater detail: B cells, CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T cells. Within 4 hours postinjection the percentage of FITC+CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes fell in the blood and remained significantly lower than the injected sample. In contrast, the concentration of FITC+ γδ T cells did not change, and the percentage of FITC+ B cells increased. These data suggest that subpopulations of B and perhaps γδ T lymphocytes in the blood do not recirculate efficiently through lymph nodes.

The Relationship of Blood Lymphocytes to the Recirculating Lymphocyte Pool

Lymphocyte recirculation facilitates the detection and elimination of pathogens and the dissemination of immunologic memory. It is generally assumed that all small lymphocytes in the blood are actively recirculating, yet there is little quantitative data directly comparing the migration of this population with actively recirculating, lymph-derived lymphocytes. In this study blood lymphocytes were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and lymph lymphocytes were labeled with CM-DiI, reinfused intravenously, and monitored in blood and lymph. After equilibration the concentration of blood lymphocytes was several times higher in blood than in lymph, whereas lymph lymphocytes displayed the opposite behavior. This suggested that blood lymphocytes did not recirculate as efficiently as lymph lymphocytes, so we examined the following blood lymphocyte subsets in greater detail: B cells, CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T cells. Within 4 hours postinjection the percentage of FITC+CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes fell in the blood and remained significantly lower than the injected sample. In contrast, the concentration of FITC+ γδ T cells did not change, and the percentage of FITC+ B cells increased. These data suggest that subpopulations of B and perhaps γδ T lymphocytes in the blood do not recirculate efficiently through lymph nodes.

Phenotype, and migration properties of three major subsets of tissue homing T cells in sheep

T cells show a bias in their migration pathways: some T cells preferentially migrate to peripheral lymph nodes (LN), some to mucosal tissues, and some to peripheral tissues such as skin. These recirculation pathways were examined in sheep by collecting lymph draining into and out of peripheral and intestinal LN, and using fluorescent dyes to trace the recirculation of the lymph cells. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to alpha 4, beta 1, and beta 7 integrins, and L-selectin, were used to define three major populations of recirculating T cells. Naive-type T cells (L-selectin+, alpha 4 beta 1lo beta 7lo) migrated preferentially through peripheral LN. Two memory populations could be defined: alpha 4 beta 1hi beta 7- and alpha 4 beta 7hi beta 1lo. alpha 4 beta 1hi beta 7- T cells were present in lymph draining from the skin. T cells migrating preferentially through intestinal LN were alpha 4 beta 7hi beta 1lo. Consistent with this migration pattern, the endothelial receptor for alpha 4 beta 7, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) was detected on high endothelial venules within intestinal LN and Peyer's patches, but only weakly on high endothelial venules within peripheral LN. Thus, there are at least three easily definable subsets of T cells, based on integrin expression, which show distinct migration preferences.

Compartmentalization of specific B-cells in sheep mucosae associated lymphoid organs

Numerous studies have shown that Peyer's patches (PP) contribute to the seeding of other lymphoid organs in sheep. This was demonstrated by perfusing labeled lymphocytes in PP, and later investigating their presence in drainage lymph nodes, spleen, peripheral blood or bone marrow. These data showed that PP export considerable numbers of cells every day, but provided no information as to their specificity. In this work, we used the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) spot method to investigate, in the peripheral blood, mesenteric and cervical lymph nodes and tonsils from ten sheep, the numbers of specific B-cells, directed to four common bacteria of the oro-pharyngeal area of mammals: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae or Klebsiella pneumoniae. The data were obtained from five sets of monozygous sheep, one animal of each pair being previously fed ribosomal preparations of these bacteria. Both prior to and after oral challenge, specific B-cells could be found in all the tissues tested. They were mostly IgG-producing cells and preferentially located in oro-pharyngeal drainage lymph nodes and tonsils. Their numbers increased in these lymph nodes after stimulation, while they decreased in mesenteric lymph nodes. These observations are consistent with the current hypothesis suggesting intestinal sensitization, proliferation and fast emigration of specific B-cells after oral challenge.

Differential enhancement and distribution of antigen-specific cells in various lymph nodes in response to locally inoculated bacterial antigens

The proliferation responses of antigen-specific lymphocytes from various anatomical sites were studied in dairy goats locally immunized with heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus (HKS). Animals were inoculated three times subcutaneously in the right udder with HKS at 1 month intervals. One week following the last inoculation, prescapular, mesenteric and ipsilateral (draining) and contralateral (non-draining) suprammammary lymph nodes were collected and the cells assayed in 3- and 6-day cultures to determine the immune proliferative responses of antigen-specific lymphocytes to HKS and the polyclonal T cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The cells from draining and non-draining supramammary lymph nodes responded to HKS in 3-day cultures. Peripheral lymph nodes, such as the prescapular, showed similar responses. In contrast, mesenteric lymph nodes responded optimally in 6-day cultures, notably to lower concentrations of the antigen. Cells from all lymph nodes tested showed increased responses to PHA in immunized animals, although non-draining lymph nodes demonstrated a greater response to the T cell mitogen than those of draining lymph nodes. These results suggest that unilateral introduction of Staphylococcus cell antigens to the supramammary region can induce an anamnestic response in ipsilateral as well as contralateral supramammary lymph nodes and other distant peripheral lymphoid organs. Furthermore, these data indicate that cells from intestinal lymph nodes respond differently from those of peripheral lymph nodes, suggesting the presence of a unique gastrointestinal lymphoid cell circulation in goats. Concomitant peripheral responses may be attributed to memory cell migration or to antigen leakage and relocation to distant sites from the inoculated region. Analysis with PHA suggests a difference in general responsiveness and perhaps, immunocompetence, by lymphocyte populations in various lymphoid tissues of immunized animals.

Extravasation of lymphocytes via paracortical venules in sheep lymph nodes: visualization using an intracellular fluorescent label

In rodents and humans, lymphocytes extravasate into lymph nodes via specialized paracortical venules lined with high endothelium (HEV). Sheep and other ruminants do not have morphologically defined HEV in their lymph nodes. It has been assumed that lymphocyte extravasation in these species proceeds via analogous structures; i.e., paracortical venules lined with low to medium endothelium. In this study, lymphocyte suspensions were prepared from surgically excised lymph nodes of sheep and labeled with an intracellular fluorescent dye, H33342. Labeled cells were infused intravenously back into donors, and sheep were killed at various intervals after infusion. Frozen sections of lymph nodes were examined microscopically for the location of labeled cells. Ten minutes after infusion, labeled cells were seen in the lumen of venules located in the paracortical region of the nodes. At later time points, cells were seen apparently migrating through the venule walls and in the adjacent paracortical tissue. Similar experiments were performed in which H33342-labeled murine lymphocytes were infused into syngeneic mice. When equivalent cell numbers (based on animal size) were infused, no obvious differences were seen between location and kinetics of appearance of labeled cells in lymph nodes of sheep compared to those of mice. These results indicate that lymphocyte extravasation in sheep proceeds via paracortical venules in lymph nodes. The function of these venules appears to be analogous to HEV in nonruminant species.

CD4+ lymphocytes are extracted from blood by peripheral lymph nodes at different rates from other T cell subsets and B cells

The circulation of lymphocyte subsets through prescapular lymph nodes in sheep has been quantified using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against sheep lymphocyte surface antigens. Differences in the extraction of lymphocyte subsets from blood by the lymph node were found with CD4+ lymphocytes being extracted at a faster rate (1/2) than CD8+, SBU-T19+, major histocompatibility complex class II+ and B cells (1/4 to 1/5). In order to accommodate existing data on organ-specific adhesion molecules, one subset specific and one tissue specific, expressed on vascular endothelium could act jointly to regulate the migration of recirculating lymphocytes.