Lymphotoxin and TNF produced by B cells are dispensable for maintenance of the follicle-associated epithelium but are required for development of lymphoid follicles in the Peyer's patches

J Immunol. 2004 Jul 1;173(1):86-91. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.1.86.

Abstract

Organogenesis of Peyer's patches (PP), follicle-associated epithelium, and M cells is impaired in mice lacking B cells. At the same time, lymphotoxin (LT) and TNF are known to be critical for the development of PP. To directly address the function of LT and TNF expressed by B cells in the maintenance of PP structure, we studied the de novo formation of PP in B cell-deficient mice after the transfer of bone marrow from mice with targeted mutations in LT, TNF, or their combinations. We found that although the compartmentalization of T and B cell zones and development of follicular dendritic cells were affected by the lack of B cell-derived LT and TNF, the development of follicle-associated epithelium and M cells in PP was completely independent of LT/TNF production by B cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cell Compartmentation
  • Dendritic Cells, Follicular / physiology*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Lymphotoxin-alpha / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Peyer's Patches / cytology*
  • Peyer's Patches / ultrastructure
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*

Substances

  • Lymphotoxin-alpha
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha