Immunol Rev 2011 Nov;244(1):75-84. [IF:13.462]
The role of core TNF/LIGHT family members in lymph node homeostasis and remodeling.
Zhu M , Fu YX .
Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Department of Pathology and Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
北京中国科学院生物物理研究所，中国科学院，感染与免疫重点实验室，美国芝加哥大学，病理学委员会免疫学部
Abstract
Summary: Lymph nodes (LNs) maintain active homeostasis at steady state. However, in response to changes in the local environment, such as local infection, cancer, vaccination, and autoimmune disease, dramatic remodeling of LN occurs. This remodeling includes changes in size, lymph and blood flow, immune cell trafficking and cellularity, lymphatic and blood vessel growth and activation, as well as microarchitecture. Therefore, inflammatory conditions often lead to enlarged nodes; after local inflammation resolves, LNs actively regress in size and return to steady state. Remodeling of lymphatic vessels (LVs) and blood vessels (BVs) during both the expansion and regression phases are key steps in controlling LN size as well as function. The cells, membrane-associated molecules, and soluble cytokines that are essential for LV and BV homeostasis as well as dynamic changes in the expansion and regression phases have not been well defined. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms behind LN remodeling would help us to better control undesired immune responses (e.g. inflammation and autoimmune diseases) or promote desired responses (e.g. antitumor immunity and vaccination). In this review, we focus on how the closely related tumor necrosis factor (TNF) members: LIGHT (TNFSF14), lymphotoxin-αβ, and TNF-α contribute to the remodeling of LNs at various stages of inflammation.
