Inflammation-induced formation of fat-associated lymphoid clusters

Nat Immunol. 2015 Aug;16(8):819-828. doi: 10.1038/ni.3215. Epub 2015 Jun 29.

Abstract

Fat-associated lymphoid clusters (FALCs) are a type of lymphoid tissue associated with visceral fat. Here we found that the distribution of FALCs was heterogeneous, with the pericardium containing large numbers of these clusters. FALCs contributed to the retention of B-1 cells in the peritoneal cavity through high expression of the chemokine CXCL13, and they supported B cell proliferation and germinal center differentiation during peritoneal immunological challenges. FALC formation was induced by inflammation, which triggered the recruitment of myeloid cells that expressed tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) necessary for signaling via the TNF receptors in stromal cells. Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) restricted by the antigen-presenting molecule CD1d were likewise required for the inducible formation of FALCs. Thus, FALCs supported and coordinated the activation of innate B cells and T cells during serosal immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Chemokine CXCL13 / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL13 / immunology
  • Chemokine CXCL13 / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / immunology*
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Lymphoid Tissue / cytology
  • Lymphoid Tissue / immunology*
  • Lymphoid Tissue / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / immunology
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / metabolism
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / immunology
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stromal Cells / immunology
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL13
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha