Differential migration of in vivo primed B and T lymphocytes to lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs

Eur J Immunol. 2001 Sep;31(9):2603-11. doi: 10.1002/1521-4141(200109)31:9<2603::aid-immu2603>3.0.co;2-8.

Abstract

Our study describes tissue-specific migration of T and B cells during a localized anti-viral immune response. After mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) injection, B lymphocytes of the draining lymph node become infected and present a retroviral superantigen to CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Infected B cells receive superantigen-mediated help in a fashion comparable to classical immune responses. To investigate the fate of T and B lymphocytes that had interacted via cognate help in the same peripheral lymph node microenvironment we adoptively transferred them into naive recipients. Here we show that MMTV-infected B cells and superantigen-stimulated T cells were programmed to migrate to distinct sites of the body. Plasmablasts but not T cells migrated to the mammary gland and activated alpha4beta1 integrins were found to have a crucial role in the migration to the mammary gland. In contrast, T cells had a much higher affinity for secondary lymphoid organs and large intestine. This demonstrates that upon antigen-driven B and T lymphocyte interaction in the local draining lymph node a subset-specific homing program for B and T lymphocytes is induced.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Breast / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cell Movement*
  • Female
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Integrins / physiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphoid Tissue / immunology*
  • Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / physiology
  • Retroviridae Infections / immunology
  • Superantigens / immunology
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Integrins
  • Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing
  • Superantigens
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1