Tertiary lymphoid organs in systemic autoimmune diseases:  pathogenic or protective?
Tertiary lymphoid organs are found at sites of chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. These organized accumulations of T and B cells resemble secondary lymphoid organs and generate autoreactive effector cells. However, whether they contribute to disease pathogenesis or have protective functions is unclear. Here, we discuss how tertiary lymphoid organs can generate potentially pathogenic cells but may also limit the extent of the response and damage in autoimmune disease.
Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA; Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY, USA.
William D
0000-0002-7911-0610
WD
Shipman
Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA; Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
Dragos C
DC
Dasoveanu
Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY, USA; Pediatric Rheumatology, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
Theresa T
0000-0002-5707-8744
TT
Lu
Autoimmune disease; Lupus; Lymph node; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Tertiary Lymphoid Organs