B cells and tertiary lymphoid organs in renal inflammation.
B lymphocytes are part of the inflammatory cells recruited to the human kidney in various disease settings. B cell infiltrates have been described in renal allografts, in acute and chronic interstitial nephritis, and the most common glomerular diseases like immunoglobulin A (IgA) and membranous nephropathy. These cells are almost exclusively recruited to the tubulointerstitium, but not the glomerular tuft. In addition to diffuse tubulointerstitial infiltrates, B cells together with T cells and dendritic cells form organized nodular aggregates surrounded by neo-lymphatic vessels. The functional significance of these tertiary lymphoid organs remains to be fully defined. Intrarenal B cells may be part of a local system to enhance the immunological response by functioning as antigen presenting cells, and as a source for cytokines promoting T-cell proliferation and lymphatic neoangiogenesis. In this way, they could enhance the local immune response to persisting autoantigens in the tubulointerstitium.
Segerer
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Medizinische Poliklinik, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Stephan.segerer@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Schlöndorff
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000069283:Rituximab; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab