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Turning off follicular dendritic cells

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Abstract

Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are specialized to display intact antigens for recognition by B cells. Here we show that inhibition of lymphotoxin α/β (LTα/β) leads to the disappearance of multiple markers on FDCs within one day, regardless of whether any immune reactions are taking place. Inhibition of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) pathway was also effective, but only in the absence of a strong antigenic response. These treatments not only prevented trapping of newly formed immune complexes, but also eliminated previously trapped immune complexes on FDCs, rendering the FDC non-functional. Therefore lymphotoxin and/or TNF is required for the continual maintenance of FDC function.

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Figure 1: Only the LTα/β pathway is essential for the maintenance of FDC networks following immunization with sheep red blood cells, yet both the TNF and lymphotoxin pathways are required for the maintenance of immune complexes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Inflammation and Cell Biology, Biogen, 12 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, 02142, Massachusetts, USA

    Fabienne Mackay & Jeffrey L. Browning

Authors
  1. Fabienne Mackay
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  2. Jeffrey L. Browning
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Mackay, F., Browning, J. Turning off follicular dendritic cells. Nature 395, 26–27 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/25630

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