Inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-[alpha] regulate lymphocyte trafficking through the local lymph node

Janet L-K Wee, Deanne LV Greenwood, Xiao Yan Han, Jean-Pierre Y Scheerlinck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lymphocyte trafficking from blood to lymph and back is a tightly regulated process. Given appropriate stimuli, trafficking of cells through the lymph node changes from a steady-state to a bimodal flow. Initially, a shutdown phase occurs, leading to a dramatic reduction in efferent cell output. This is followed by a recruitment phase whereby the efferent cell output becomes greatly elevated before returning to baseline levels. The shutdown/recruitment process is hypothesised to promote encounters between Ag-specific lymphocytes and APCs in an environment conducive to immune response induction. Cytokines, such as TNF-alpha have been shown to play an important role in regulating lymphocyte trafficking. Here, we unravel the role of cytokines in the regulation of cell trafficking using an in vivo sheep lymphatic cannulation model whereby the prefemoral lymph nodes were cannulated and recombinant cytokines were injected subcutaneously into the draining area of the cannulated node. We demonstrate that local injection of purified IL-6 or TNF-alpha stimulates shutdown/recruitment in the draining lymph node. While the effect of IL-6 appears to be direct, TNF-alpha may mediate shutdown/recruitment through IL-6.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)95 - 103
Number of pages9
JournalVeterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Volume144
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Cite this