Neural architecture in lymphoid organs: Hard-wired antigen presenting cells and neurite networks in antigen entrance areas. 2018

Clemens Wülfing, and Fenja Amrei Schuran, and Julia Urban, and Jasmin Oehlmann, and Hauke Simon Günther
Group for Interdisciplinary Neurobiology and Immunology, Biozentrum Grindel, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Recently, we found abundant innervation of antigen presenting cells that were reached and enclosed by single neurites. These neurally hard-wired antigen presenting cells (wAPC) could be observed in the T-cell zone of superficial cervical lymph nodes of rats and other mammalians, including humans. As a consequence, we investigated lymph nodes at many different anatomical positions as well as all primary and secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) in rodents for a similar morphology of innervation regarding antigen presenting cells known in those tissues. As a result, we confirmed wAPC in lymph nodes independent from their draining areas and anatomical positions but also in all other T-cell zones of lymphoid organs, like Peyer's patches, NALT and BALT, as well as in the thymic medulla. Other cells were innervated in a similar fashion but with seemingly missing antigen presenting capacity. Both types of innervated immune cells were observed as being also present in the dermis of the skin. Only in the spleen wAPC could not be detected. Beyond this systematic finding, we also found another regular phenomenon: a dense network of neurites that stained for neurofilament always in antigen entrance areas of lymphoid organs (subsinoidal layer of lymph nodes, subepithelial dome of Peyer's patches, subsinoidal layer of the splenic white pulp, margins of NALT and BALT). Lastly, also thymic epithelial cells (TEC) restricted to the corticomedullary junction of the thymus showed similar neurofilament staining. Therefore, we propose much more hard-wired and probably afferent connections between lymphoid organs and the central nervous system than is hitherto known.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008221 Lymphoid Tissue Specialized tissues that are components of the lymphatic system. They provide fixed locations within the body where a variety of LYMPHOCYTES can form, mature and multiply. The lymphoid tissues are connected by a network of LYMPHATIC VESSELS. Lymphatic Tissue,Lymphatic Tissues,Lymphoid Tissues,Tissue, Lymphatic,Tissue, Lymphoid,Tissues, Lymphatic,Tissues, Lymphoid
D008810 Mice, Inbred C57BL One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases. Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D008869 Microtubule-Associated Proteins High molecular weight proteins found in the MICROTUBULES of the cytoskeletal system. Under certain conditions they are required for TUBULIN assembly into the microtubules and stabilize the assembled microtubules. Ensconsin,Epithelial MAP, 115 kDa,Epithelial Microtubule-Associate Protein, 115 kDa,MAP4,Microtubule Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Protein 4,Microtubule Associated Protein 7,Microtubule-Associated Protein,Microtubule-Associated Protein 7,E-MAP-115,MAP1 Microtubule-Associated Protein,MAP2 Microtubule-Associated Protein,MAP3 Microtubule-Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Proteins,Microtubule-Associated Protein 1,Microtubule-Associated Protein 2,Microtubule-Associated Protein 3,7, Microtubule-Associated Protein,Associated Protein, Microtubule,E MAP 115,Epithelial Microtubule Associate Protein, 115 kDa,MAP1 Microtubule Associated Protein,MAP2 Microtubule Associated Protein,MAP3 Microtubule Associated Protein,Microtubule Associated Protein 1,Microtubule Associated Protein 2,Microtubule Associated Protein 3,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP1,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP2,Microtubule-Associated Protein, MAP3,Protein 7, Microtubule-Associated,Protein, Microtubule Associated,Protein, Microtubule-Associated
D009415 Nerve Net A meshlike structure composed of interconnecting nerve cells that are separated at the synaptic junction or joined to one another by cytoplasmic processes. In invertebrates, for example, the nerve net allows nerve impulses to spread over a wide area of the net because synapses can pass information in any direction. Neural Networks (Anatomic),Nerve Nets,Net, Nerve,Nets, Nerve,Network, Neural (Anatomic),Networks, Neural (Anatomic),Neural Network (Anatomic)
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000938 Antigen-Presenting Cells A heterogeneous group of immunocompetent cells that mediate the cellular immune response by processing and presenting antigens to the T-cells. Traditional antigen-presenting cells include MACROPHAGES; DENDRITIC CELLS; LANGERHANS CELLS; and B-LYMPHOCYTES. FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS are not traditional antigen-presenting cells, but because they hold antigen on their cell surface in the form of IMMUNE COMPLEXES for B-cell recognition they are considered so by some authors. Accessory Cells, Immunologic,Antigen-Presenting Cell,Immunologic Accessory Cells,Accessory Cell, Immunologic,Cell, Immunologic Accessory,Cells, Immunologic Accessory,Immunologic Accessory Cell,Antigen Presenting Cell,Antigen Presenting Cells,Cell, Antigen-Presenting,Cells, Antigen-Presenting
D000949 Histocompatibility Antigens Class II Large, transmembrane, non-covalently linked glycoproteins (alpha and beta). Both chains can be polymorphic although there is more structural variation in the beta chains. The class II antigens in humans are called HLA-D ANTIGENS and are coded by a gene on chromosome 6. In mice, two genes named IA and IE on chromosome 17 code for the H-2 antigens. The antigens are found on B-lymphocytes, macrophages, epidermal cells, and sperm and are thought to mediate the competence of and cellular cooperation in the immune response. The term IA antigens used to refer only to the proteins encoded by the IA genes in the mouse, but is now used as a generic term for any class II histocompatibility antigen. Antigens, Immune Response,Class II Antigens,Class II Histocompatibility Antigen,Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigen,Ia Antigens,Ia-Like Antigen,Ia-Like Antigens,Immune Response Antigens,Immune-Associated Antigens,Immune-Response-Associated Antigens,MHC Class II Molecule,MHC II Peptide,Class II Antigen,Class II Histocompatibility Antigens,Class II MHC Proteins,Class II Major Histocompatibility Antigens,Class II Major Histocompatibility Molecules,I-A Antigen,I-A-Antigen,IA Antigen,MHC Class II Molecules,MHC II Peptides,MHC-II Molecules,Antigen, Class II,Antigen, I-A,Antigen, IA,Antigen, Ia-Like,Antigens, Class II,Antigens, Ia,Antigens, Ia-Like,Antigens, Immune-Associated,Antigens, Immune-Response-Associated,I A Antigen,II Peptide, MHC,Ia Like Antigen,Ia Like Antigens,Immune Associated Antigens,Immune Response Associated Antigens,MHC II Molecules,Molecules, MHC-II,Peptide, MHC II,Peptides, MHC II
D015213 Neuroimmunomodulation The biochemical and electrophysiological interactions between the NERVOUS SYSTEM and IMMUNE SYSTEM. Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway,Neuro-immune Axis,Neuro-immune Communication,Neuro-immune Interactions,Neuro-immunomodulation,Neuroimmune Axis,Neuroimmune Communication,Neuroimmune Interactions,Neuroimmune Processes,Vagal Anti-inflammatory Pathway,Vagal-immune Interactions,Neuroimmune Mechanisms,Neuroimmune Process,Anti-inflammatory Pathway, Cholinergic,Anti-inflammatory Pathway, Vagal,Cholinergic Anti inflammatory Pathway,Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathways,Communication, Neuro-immune,Communication, Neuroimmune,Interaction, Neuro-immune,Interaction, Neuroimmune,Mechanism, Neuroimmune,Neuro immune Axis,Neuro immune Communication,Neuro immune Interactions,Neuro immunomodulation,Neuro-immune Communications,Neuro-immune Interaction,Neuroimmune Communications,Neuroimmune Interaction,Neuroimmune Mechanism,Process, Neuroimmune,Vagal Anti inflammatory Pathway,Vagal Anti-inflammatory Pathways,Vagal immune Interactions,Vagal-immune Interaction

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