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PubMed1997

Telomerase activity in reactive and neoplastic lymphoid tissues: infrequent detection of activity in Hodgkin's disease.

We used the recently described sensitive and rapid detection assay called telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) to detect telomerase activity in lymphoblastoid (n = 5) and lymphoma cell lines (n = 7), hyperplastic lymph nodes (n = 6) and tonsils (n = 5), and tissues involved by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (n = 43) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) (n = 14). Clearly evident telomerase activity was found in all lymphoblastoid and lymphoma cell lines, and in 34 of 43 cases (80%) of NHL. These results were expected because of the proliferative and immortal nature of the cell lines and most malignant cells. However, positive results were obtained with the TRAP assay in all hyperplastic lymph nodes and tonsils, which raises the issue of derepression of telomerase activity during an immune response. Telomerase activity alone therefore does not distinguish malignant lymphoid proliferations from reactive states. Telomerase activity was detected in only 1 of 14 cases (7%) of lymphoid tissues involved by HD. Eight of the 13 negative cases were considered to be interpretable because of the lack (3 of 13 cases) or low level (5 of 13 cases) of telomerase inhibition. The five remaining cases could not be evaluated because of their telomerase inhibitor content. The findings imply either transient or very low levels of telomerase activity in HD or that HD for the greater part is a telomerase-independent neoplasm. Microdissection studies are needed to identify subsets of cells carrying telomerase activity in both reactive and neoplastic lymphoid tissues.

Chromosomes, Human↗

PubMed2000

Dynamics of CCR5 expression by CD4(+) T cells in lymphoid tissues during simian immunodeficiency virus infection.

Early viral replication and profound CD4(+) T-cell depletion occur preferentially in intestinal tissues of macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Here we show that a much higher percentage of CD4(+) T cells in the intestine express CCR5 compared with those found in the peripheral blood, spleen, or lymph nodes. In addition, the selectivity and extent of the CD4(+) T-cell loss in SIV infection may depend upon these cells coexpressing CCR5 and having a "memory" phenotype (CD45RA(-)). Following intravenous infection with SIVmac251, memory CD4(+) CCR5(+) T cells were selectively eliminated within 14 days in all major lymphoid tissues (intestine, spleen, and lymph nodes). However, the effect on CD4(+) T-cell numbers was most profound in the intestine, where cells of this phenotype predominate. The CD4(+) T cells that remain after 14 days of infection lacked CCR5 and/or were naive (CD45RA(+)). Furthermore, when animals in the terminal stages of SIV infection (with AIDS) were examined, virtually no CCR5-expressing CD4(+) T cells were found in lymphoid tissues, and all of the remaining CD4(+) T cells were naive and coexpressed CXCR4. These findings suggest that chemokine receptor usage determines which cells are targeted for SIV infection and elimination in vivo.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2000

Bilateral mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the parotid gland.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) tumors of the parotid gland are extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Stage I and II MALT tumors are usually treated with surgery or radiotherapy. Bilateral MALT-derived non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the parotid glands is rare, and optimal treatment is debatable. Two patients presented at the otorhinolaryngology department of the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. The treatment strategy that was used in case 1 was also successfully used in case 2. A precise diagnosis could not be made by either fine-needle biopsy or intraoperative frozen section biopsy; it was achieved with open biopsy. Surgery and/or radiotherapy proved to be effective. There was no recurrence of disease in either case. The advantages of surgery are complete resection of the tumor and absence of xerostomia and mucositis, which are caused by irradiation. Radiotherapy does not produce a scar or an indentation at the parotid region, however, and results in a better cosmetic appearance. Therefore, we recommend open biopsy with facial nerve monitoring and subsequent irradiation in cases in which bilateral prominence of the parotid glands and suspicion of a MALT lymphoma are both present.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Vimentin antibodies stain membranous epithelial cells in the rabbit bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT).

The lymphoepithelium covering the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of the rabbit lung was studied with monoclonal antibodies against vimentin, using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. In the lymphoepithelium single cells which had a membranous apical cytoplasm and engulfed intraepithelial lymphocytes were vimentin-immunoreactive. All other epithelial cells of the lymphoepithelium and of the surrounding airway epithelium did not bind vimentin antibodies. The results support the hypothesis that the membranous epithelial cells in the lymphoepithelium of rabbit BALT are analogous with intestinal M-cells, which in rabbit Peyer's patches and appendix are selectively labelled by vimentin antibodies.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Characteristics of gastric B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type involving multiple organs.

BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma involving multiple organs is not well characterized. METHODS: To obtain a better understanding of gastric MALT lymphoma with multiple organ involvement, we compared Helicobacter pylori infection status; response to eradication therapy; prevalence of genetic abnormality, including t(11;18)(q21;q21); and clonality of tumor cells between patients with gastric MALT lymphoma with and without multiple organ involvement. RESULTS: Of 54 patients with only gastric involvement, 51 were positive for H. pylori (94.4%), whereas only 3 of 9 patients with multiple organ involvement had the infection (33.3%). Among those who received eradication therapy, the remission rate in patients with only gastric involvement was significantly higher than that in patients with multiple organ involvement (71.4% vs 33.3%; P < 0.05). The positive rate of API2-MALT1 fusion transcripts was significantly greater in patients with multiple lesions with either single or multiple organ involvement than in those with a single gastric lesion (71.4% vs 12.5%; P < 0.05), but 2 of 2 patients with multiple gastric lesions had the fusion transcripts. Of 5 patients with multiple organ involvement tested for clonality of the CDR3 region, distinct clones were detected in lymphoma lesions in different organs in 3 patients, whereas the identical clone was present in the different lesions in the remaining 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric MALT lymphoma with multiple organ involvement is often associated with API2-MALT1 fusion transcripts. Moreover, H. pylori infection is rare in patients with multiple organ involvement as compared to those with only gastric involvement. Patients with gastric MALT lymphoma with multiple organ involvement who are positive for H. pylori are resistant to eradication therapy.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Helicobacter pylori and the t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation in gastric low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type.

The reported regression of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type gastric low-grade B-cell lymphoma following treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has not yet been comprehensively analyzed, especially in relation to the recently identified c-IAP2-MALT1 / MLT gene alteration resulting from the t(11;18)(q21;q21) chromosomal translocation found in MALT lymphoma. The relationship between MALT lymphomas and H. pylori was investigated in 30 patients who received an antibacterial treatment. Patients were followed up by means of endoscopy and biopsy. Molecular genetic analyses focused on the presence or absence of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene and / or MALT1 / MLT gene alteration resulting from t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation. H. pylori was positive in 26 of the 30 patients. The overall success rate of cure of H. pylori infection was 96% (25 / 26). Thirteen patients (52%) showed complete remission (CR) of lymphoma, nine (36%) partial remission (PR), and three (12%) registered no change (NC). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between CR and PR / NC patients in age ( < 60 or 60), in lymphoma location (single or multiple sites) and in the presence or absence of gene rearrangement before eradication (P < 0.05). Endoscopy showed a cobblestone appearance only in PR cases and polypoid features predominantly in NC cases. Two NC patients with polypoid gross appearance showed rearrangements involving either c-IAP2 or MALT1 gene in Southern blot analysis, while none of seven other resected patients with non-polypoid superficial gross appearance showed rearrangement. Gastric MALT lymphoma could be pragmatically subdivided into three groups, CR (MALT-A), PR (MALT-B), and NC (MALT-C) on the basis of the reaction to eradication of H. pylori. We speculate that MALT-A may represent an incipient neoplasm or dysplasia, MALT-B a neoplasm activated by antigenic stimulation of H. pylori, and MALT-C a lymphoma independent of H. pylori. Polypoid lesions in MALT-C were associated with c-IAP2-MALT1 / MLT gene alteration resulting from t(11;18)(q21;q21). This classification is thought to be clinically significant for deciding the most appropriate mode of treatment of MALT-type lymphoproliferative disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Helicobacter pylori and gastric lymphoma: high seroprevalence of CagA in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma but not in low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type is closely related to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. In vitro studies have demonstrated H. pylori-induced B cell proliferation to be strain dependent. High prevalences of CagA protein and FldA protein have been reported in strains obtained from patients with gastric lymphoma of MALT type. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and to search for antigenic particularities in 53 patients with primary gastric lymphoma in comparison with a group of infected patients with benign disease. METHODS: Of the 53 patients, 37 presented with low-grade lymphoma of MALT type (LGLM) and 16 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). They were compared to a group of 162 H. pylori-infected subjects comprising the control group: 111 had gastric or duodenal ulcer (GDU) and 51 nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD). Diagnosis of gastric lymphoma was established on histological examination of endoscopic specimens. Anti-H. pylori antibodies were assayed by third-generation ELISA. Western blot assay was used to detect antibodies against nine antigens (including CagA protein), which were recognized on the basis of their molecular weight. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients with gastric lymphoma, 45 were H. pylori-positive (85%): of these, 25 (56.5%) had anti-CagA antibodies. The prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was 78% (29/37) in LGLM and 100% (16/16) in DLBCL. The prevalence of CagA seropositivity in H. pylori-positive patients was 44.8% (13/29) and 75% (12/16), respectively (p < 0.05). In comparison, the seroprevalence of CagA was 77.4% (86/111) in GDU patients and 43.1% (22/53) in NUD patients. The prevalence of antibodies to other antigenic proteins detected with Helicoblot 2.0 (19.5kd, 30kd, 35kd, VacA, HSPb, Urease A, and Urease B) did not differ among the groups except for 35kd protein, which was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in GDU than in NUD and in LGLM (76.6% vs 49% and 46.7%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that in patients who develop gastric lymphomas in response to H. pylori, virulent strains expressing CagA protein are preferentially associated with DLBCL.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1999

Serum antibody responses to Helicobacter pylori and the cagA marker in patients with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

The lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of the stomach has been linked to Helicobacter pylori infection, but the mechanisms involved in B-cell proliferation remain elusive. In a search for putative H. pylori-specific monoclonal immunoglobulin production, an H. pylori strain was isolated from 10 patients with MALT lymphoma and used to detect the specific serum antibody response to the homologous strain by immunoblotting. Moreover, the antigenicity of the different strains was compared by using each of the 10 sera. We found that the different strains induced highly variable patterns of systemic immunoglobulin G antibody response, although several bacterial antigens, such as the 60-kDa urease B, were often recognized by the different sera. The cagA marker was detected in the strains by PCR with specific primers and by dot blot analysis, and the CagA protein was found in the sera of 4 of the 10 patients by immunoblotting. In conclusion, MALT lymphoma patients, like other patients with H. pylori gastritis, exhibit a polymorphic systemic antibody response, despite an apparently similar antigenic profile. The CagA marker of pathogenicity is not associated with this disease.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1996

Characterisation of inorganic microparticles in pigment cells of human gut associated lymphoid tissue.

Macrophages at the base of human gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), become loaded early in life with dark granular pigment that is rich in aluminium, silicon, and titanium. The molecular characteristics, intracellular distribution, and source of this pigment is described. Laser scanning and electron microscopy showed that pigmented macrophages were often closely related to collagen fibres and plasma cells in GALT of both small and large intestine and contained numerous phagolysosomes, previously described as granules, that are rich in electron dense submicron sized particles. Morphological assessment, x ray microanalysis, and image electron energy loss spectroscopy showed three distinct types of microparticle: type I - spheres of titanium dioxide, 100-200 nm diameter, characterised as the synthetic food-additive polymorph anatase; type II - aluminosilicates, < 100-400 nm in length, generally of flaky appearance, often with adsorbed surface iron, and mostly characteristic of the natural clay mineral kaolinite; and type III - mixed environmental silicates without aluminium, 100-700 nm in length and of variable morphology. Thus, this cellular pigment that is partly derived from food additives and partly from the environment is composed of inert inorganic microparticles and loaded into phagolysosomes of macrophages within the GALT of all human subjects. These observations suggest that the pathogenicity of this pigment should be further investigated since, in susceptible individuals, the same intracellular distribution of these three types of submicron particle causes chronic latent granulomatous inflammation.

Aluminum Silicates↗

PubMed1995

Determination of a common clonal origin of gastric and pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas presenting five years apart.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is often mis-diagnosed as a benign tumor. Dissemination to other sites occurs in MALT lymphoma. We report a 60-year-old man with gastric and pulmonary tumors of MALT lymphoma which occurred 5 years apart. Initially, the gastric tumor had been diagnosed as reactive lymphoreticular hyperplasia. To determine whether the two tumors arose from the same malignant clone, we amplified and sequenced the complementarity-determining region 3 of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sequences were identical except for 11-nucleotide difference, suggesting identical clonality.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1971

Shifts in the immunocompetence of lymphoid tissue in guinea pigs containing a limited microflora.

Many authors have demonstrated simplification of the species composition of the normal microflora in animals long kept in a closed environment. The purpose of the present work is to reveal the effect of such simplification (without reduction of the total number of bacteria) on the immunocompetent system of the animals. Three months old germ-free, monocontaminated (Staph. albus) and conventional guinea pigs with reduced fecal microflora were used in this study. Guinea pigs of the second group were fed a sterile diet but were kept in an ordinary vivarium. Two groups of control animals were: 1) conventionals fed regular diets; 2) conventionals fed the diet contaminated with fecal microflora of guinea pigs after sterilization. The fecal microflora was examined. The total number of bacteria in faeces of monocontaminated and microflora-reduced conventional animals was approximately the same as in conventional controls. Various lymphoid organs were examined. Their weight, size, number and activity of germinal centres, amount of globulin-producing cells, their differentiation and amount of globulins in single cells were determined. The lymphoid tissue in microflora-reduced animals and especially in monocontaminated guinea pigs was found to be underdeveloped. These changes were, however, less pronounced than in germ-free animals. It is suggested that simplification of the microflora in a macro-organism during long-term enclosure reduces the lymphoid tissue; such a macro-organism may develop severe reactions of the microbial shock, when occurring in a normal microbial environment.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Differential expression of oestrogen receptors in human secondary lymphoid tissues.

Many autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occur much more frequently in women than in men. There is much evidence that oestrogen is the major cause of this gender difference. Interestingly, oestrogen relieves the symptoms of RA and SS but it exacerbates SLE. This contradictory effect of oestrogen on autoimmune diseases is not well understood. Most of the effects of oestrogen are mediated by two receptors: oestrogen receptor alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta). To determine whether these contradictory effects of oestrogen relate to the involvement of distinct effects of the two ERs, we investigated expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in human secondary lymphoid tissues. We observed that, in tonsils, ERbeta is expressed in lymphocytes of germinal centres (GC) and the follicular mantle zone as well as in granulocytes, while ERalpha is expressed only in activated germinal centres but not in the follicular zone. ERbeta is the predominant ER in human leucocytes from peripheral blood, spleen and in leucocytes infiltrating cancers in both males and females. In addition, in different human lymphoma cell lines including Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, ERbeta is abundant while ERalpha is not detectable. Our results indicate that ERbeta is the predominant type of ER in mature lymphocytes. We suggest that ERalpha and ERbeta have distinct roles in secondary lymphoid tissues and that further studies with ERbeta-specific agonists will help to elucidate the role of ERbeta in these tissues.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Alterations of skin-associated lymphoid tissue in the carcinogenesis of arsenical skin cancer.

We investigated the skin-associated lymphoid tissue in arsenical skin cancers, including 14 Bowen's disease, 6 basal cell carcinoma and 6 squamous cell carcinoma patients from an endemic area by immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. There was a progressive decrease of Langerhans cells in the order of normal skin, normal appearing edge and arsenical cancers. A disruption of the uniform Langerhans cell dendrites was also noticed. The Langerhans cell density in arsenical tumors did not correlate with the peritumoral infiltrates. The prominent infiltrated cells in the peritumoral area had T cell markers. The number of peritumoral T lymphocytes in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly less than that of Bowen's disease and basal cell carcinoma. Peritumoral mononuclear infiltrates in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma showed a higher helper/suppressor T cell ratio than that in basal cell carcinoma. This may be accounted for by a selective increased recruitment of helper T cells to the tumor infiltrates in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma.

Arsenic Poisoning↗

PubMed1992

Phenotypic analysis of lymphocyte populations in the lungs and regional lymphoid tissue of sheep naturally infected with maedi visna virus.

We have analysed the phenotype of lymphocytes in lung and regional lymph node of symptomatic and asymptomatic sheep infected with the ovine lentivirus, maedi visna virus (MVV). Compared to equivalent tissues from age-matched, non-infected controls, MVV-infected sheep show increased numbers of lymphocytes in the lung, both in the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) and in the alveolar septae. Both CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocyte numbers in alveolar septae were increased, particularly in animals with clinical respiratory disease. The ratio of CD8+ to CD4+ lymphocytes was similar to that in normal lung. In both MVV-infected and uninfected animals a high proportion of pulmonary lymphocytes, particularly in the alveolar septae, did not express the CD5 antigen, suggesting that they were activated. The number of activated cells was higher in infected sheep. Variable numbers of alveolar macrophages containing MVV-core protein were present in alveolar lumina, the majority of positive cells showing morphological evidence of activation. In regional lymphoid tissue there were increased numbers of CD8+ and gamma delta expressing T cells in lymphoid follicles and germinal centres of infected animals. The specificity of these cells is unknown and we could find no evidence for the presence of cells productively infected with the virus in these structures. This study shows that activated T lymphocytes, particularly of the CD8 subset, play a major part in the pathogenesis of MVV-induced pulmonary and regional lymph node lesions.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Uptake of ferritin and Bordetella avium in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue of turkeys.

The uptake of macromolecular and particulate materials in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in turkeys was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Tracer materials used were live and ultraviolet-killed (UV-killed) Bordetella avium and ferritin. Suspensions of bacteria and ferritin were instilled via intratracheal catheterization and allowed to remain in contact with the respiratory surfaces for 0, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. Ferritin and B. avium were taken up by both ciliated and non-ciliated cells of the epithelium overlying BALT (BALT epithelium). Ferritin was found in organelles associated with endocytosis (i.e. apical vesicles, endosomes, cytoplasmic vacuoles) and was apparently transported across epithelial cells, since it was also found in intercellular spaces. Bacteria were found in vacuoles within BALT epithelial cells, but not free in intercellular spaces. Some macrophages in BALT epithelium also contained bacteria. No differences were observed between uptake of live and UV-killed bacteria. We conclude that both ciliated and non-ciliated cells of BALT epithelium in turkeys are able to take up macromolecular and particulate materials. Bacteria are also accessible to intraepithelial macrophages, although whether they are taken up directly from the bronchial surface or whether they pass through epithelial cells first could not be determined. This evidence suggests that antigens, including respiratory pathogens, could gain access to cells of the avian immune system by transepithelial passage in BALT.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Influence of a small number of mature T cells in donor bone marrow inocula on reconstitution of lymphoid tissues and negative selection of a T cell repertoire in the recipient.

Allo-chimerism and clonal elimination of self antigen (Ag) (Ia + Mls-1a) reactive V beta 6+ T cells were analyzed and compared between allogeneic bone marrow (BM) chimeras reconstituted with BM cells which had been treated with anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus complement (C) (T- chimeras) and BM chimeras which had been reconstituted with BM cells pretreated with anti-Thy-1 mAb alone (T+ chimeras). When lethally irradiated AKR (Mls-1a) mice were reconstituted with BM cells from B10 or B10 H-2 congenic mice, both T+ and T- chimeras were entirely free of signs of graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). However, complete replacement of the AKR lymphoid tissues by donor BM cells was accomplished at an early stage in T+ chimeras but not in T- chimeras. On the other hand, clonal elimination of V beta 6+ T cells reactive to the recipient Ag (Mls-1a) was abolished in T+ chimeras but successfully induced in T- chimeras. The V beta 6+ T cells not eliminated in T+ chimeras showed depressed responses against Mls-1a antigens. The findings herein demonstrate that T cells which contaminate a BM inoculum survive in recipient mice after treatment with anti-Thy-1 mAb without C in vitro followed by BMT. The surviving T cells have been estimated to represent fewer than 0.5% of the BM cells inoculated. These cells appear to accelerate the full replacement of recipient lymphoid tissues by donor cells. Furthermore, the T cells which survive in the marrow inoculum influence eventually the development of a tolerant state in the T cell repertoire of the donor.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Comparative analysis of light chain expression in germinal center cells and mantle cells of reactive lymphoid tissues. A four-color flow cytometric study.

We studied skewing of light chain ratios (LCRs) in germinal center cells (GCCs) relative to mantle cells (MCs) by flow cytometry (FC) in 98 reactive lymphoid tissues. LCRs were assessed using a 4-color lambda/kappa/CD20/CD38 tube. GCCs and MCs were discriminated by CD20 and CD38 density. Of 98 cases, 65 contained distinct GCCs and MCs. Light chain expression usually was dimmer on GCCs than on MCs; in 22 cases, the kappa and lambda clusters converged and accurate LCRs could not be determined. Of the remaining 43 cases, the mean GCC LCR was 1.78 (range, 1.10-3.07) vs 1.56 (range, 1.00-2.24) in the MCs (P = .001). The overall kappa/lambda ratio in cases containing GCCs and MCs was 1.65 (range, 1.18-2.69) compared with 1.46 (range, 1.00-1.98) in cases containing MCs only. Of 43 cases, 19 (44%) showed differences of 20% or more between the LCRs of GCCs and MCs. LCRs of GCCs and MCs may differ substantially in reactive lymphoid tissues. These subsets may form distinct clusters and skews in their LCRs and should not be misinterpreted as evidence of occult lymphoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Demonstration and organization of duct-associated lymphoid tissue (DALT) of the main excretory duct in the monkey parotid gland.

Duct-associated lymphoid tissue (DALT) of the main excretory duct in the monkey parotid gland was first demonstrated by light microscopy and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The DALT included a follicular area, a parafollicular area and a specialized overlying epithelium with distinct fine-structural elements. There was usually a solitary lymphoid follicle located in the subepithelial area near the orifice of the parotid duct. The lymphoid follicles typically had a distinct germinal center. Numerous immune cells often infiltrated into the epithelium overlying the lymphoid follicle. The superficial epithelial cells of the DALT were larger and flatter than the ordinary duct epithelial cells, and had short irregular microvilli on their luminal surface. They were also in close contact with immune cells such as dendritic cells and lymphocytes. Goblet cells were rare in this area. In addition, bacteria, seen at the duct orifice, were sometimes taken up by the flattened epithelial cells near the orifice. Latex microspheres administrated as particulate antigens at the duct orifice were selectively taken up by the flattened epithelial cells and also by the intraepithelial dendritic cells of the DALT. These morphological findings suggest that the epithelial cells of the DALT in parotid glands take up antigens from the duct lumen and transport them to adjacent immune cells, and that the DALT in parotid glands may serve as one of the inductive sites in the common mucosal immune system.

Animals↗