title: Differential response of B cells in the lymph node and the spleen to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.
abstract: In vivo polyclonal activation of B cells in the lymph nodes and the spleens of mice injected with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was compared. The peak of anti-trinitrophenylated sheep red blood cells plaque-forming cell (PFC) response in the lymph node was reached 6-8 days after the injection of LPS while that in the spleen was reached at 2 days. The maximal increase in the total number of Ig-producing cells in the lymph node also occurred at the later stage. These differences in time courses of polyclonal activation of B cells between the lymph node and the spleen were not due to the absence of B cells in the lymph node, migration of PFC from the spleen to the lymph node, or qualitative differences of B cells. This phenomenon was dependent on the environmental difference between the lymph node and the spleen, because B cells from the lymph node could respond to LPS rapidly in the spleen. Further, the polyclonal activation of B cells was accelerated in the lymph nodes of mice receiving prior injection of LPS. In in vitro cultures of lymph node cells of those mice, a significant amount of interleukin-1 could be detected by stimulation of LPS. It was possible that the delayed activation of B cells in the lymph node was due to the time lag necessary for construction of the environmental condition suitable for activation of B cells, whereas in the spleen this condition can be provided without delay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Fukui Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokochi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fuji
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides