Subcapsular encounter and complement-dependent transport of immune complexes by lymph node B cells.
The mechanism of B cell-antigen encounter in lymphoid tissues is incompletely understood. It is also unclear how immune complexes are transported to follicular dendritic cells. Here, using real-time two-photon microscopy we noted rapid delivery of immune complexes through the lymph to macrophages in the lymph node subcapsular sinus. B cells captured immune complexes by a complement receptor-dependent mechanism from macrophage processes that penetrated the follicle and transported the complexes to follicular dendritic cells. Furthermore, cognate B cells captured antigen-containing immune complexes from macrophage processes and migrated to the T zone. Our findings identify macrophages lining the subcapsular sinus as an important site of B cell encounter with immune complexes and show that intrafollicular B cell migration facilitates the transport of immune complexes as well as encounters with cognate antigen.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
Tri Giang
TG
Phan
Irina
I
Grigorova
Takaharu
T
Okada
Jason G
JG
Cyster
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010799:Phycoerythrin / Q000276:immunology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000276:immunology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D010799:Phycoerythrin; D003165:Complement System Proteins