| First Author | Wilhelm P | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | Eur J Immunol | Volume | 32 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1993-2003 |
| PubMed ID | 12115620 | Mgi Jnum | J:78229 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2183838 | Doi | 10.1002/1521-4141(200207)32:7<1993::AID-IMMU1993>3.0.CO;2-F |
| Citation | Wilhelm P, et al. (2002) Membrane lymphotoxin contributes to anti-leishmanial immunity by controlling structural integrity of lymphoid organs. Eur J Immunol 32(7):1993-2003 |
| abstractText | Lymphotoxin (LT)alpha in combination with LTbeta forms membrane-bound heterotrimeric complexes with a crucial function in lymph node (LN) organogenesis and correct morphogenesis of secondary lymphoid tissue. To study the role of membrane LT (mLT) in lymphoid tissue organogenesis we generated an LTbeta-deficient mouse strain on a pure genetic C57BL/6 background (B6.LTbeta-/-) and compared it to a unique series of LTalpha-, TNF- and TNF/LTalpha-gene-targeted mice on an identical genetic background (B6.LTalpha-/-, B6.TNF-/- and B6 TNF/LTalpha-/-). B6.LTbeta-/- mice lacked peripheral LN with the exception of mesenteric LN, and displayed a disturbed micro-architecture of the spleen, although less profoundly than LTalpha- or TNF/LTalpha-deficient mice. Radiation bone marrow chimeras (B6.WT-->B6.LTbeta-/- developed Peyer's patch (PP)-like lymphoid aggregates in the intestinal wall indicating a possible role for soluble LTalpha(3) in the formation of the PP anlage. After infection with Leishmania major, B6.LTbeta-/- mice developed a fatal disseminating leishmaniasis resulting in death after 8 to 14 weeks, despite the natural resistance of the C57BL/6 genetic background (B6.WT) mice to the parasite. Both, the cellular and the humoral anti-L. major immune responses were delayed and ineffective. However, the expression pattern of the key cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-12 were comparable in B6.WT and B6.LTbeta-/- mice. Infection of radiation bone marrow chimeras showed that it is the LTbeta-dependent presence of lymphoid tissue and not the expression of mLT itself that renders mice resistant to leishmaniasis. |
