Mesenteric lymph nodes at the center of immune anatomy.
The surface of the intestinal mucosa is constantly assaulted by food antigens and enormous numbers of commensal microbes and their products, which are sampled by dendritic cells (DCs). Recent work shows that the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) are the key site for tolerance induction to food proteins and that they also act as a firewall to prevent live commensal intestinal bacteria from penetrating the systemic immune system.
Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada. macpher@mcmaster.ca
Andrew J
AJ
Macpherson
Karen
K
Smith
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; C515371:Ccr7 protein, mouse; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine