Cutting edge: organogenesis of nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) occurs independently of lymphotoxin-alpha (LT alpha) and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-gamma, but the organization of NALT is LT alpha dependent.
Peyer's patch and nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) are mucosal lymphoid tissues that appear similar in structure and function. Surprisingly, we found that NALT, unlike Peyer's patch, was formed independently of lymphotoxin (LT)alpha. Furthermore, using mice deficient in the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-gamma, we found that NALT was formed in the absence of CD4+CD3- cells, which are thought to be the embryonic source of LTalpha. However, we also found that NALT of LTalpha-/- animals was disorganized and lymphopenic, suggesting that the organization and recruitment of lymphocytes within NALT remained dependent on LTalpha. Finally, we demonstrated that both the structure and function of NALT were restored in LTalpha-/- animals upon reconstitution with normal bone marrow. These results demonstrate that the organogenesis of NALT occurs through unique mechanisms.
Harmsen
Allen
A
Department of Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Kusser
Kimberley
K
Hartson
Louise
L
Tighe
Michael
M
Sunshine
Mary Jean
MJ
Sedgwick
Jonathon D
JD
Choi
Yongwon
Y
Littman
Dan R
DR
Randall
Troy D
TD
D000818:Animals; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D011828:Radiation Chimera / Q000276:immunology; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma
D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma