Journal
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
Volume 28, Issue 3, Pages 319-330Publisher
BLACKWELL PUBLISHING
DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2008.01671.x
Keywords
congeneic rat; hepatic draining lymph; hepatic lymph nodes; immunosurveillance; liver; portal area; portal vein; recirculating lymphocyte; thoracic duct; trafficking
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: We have investigated how recirculating lymphocytes patrol the liver in a normal steady state. Methods: Thoracic duct lymphocytes of congeneic rats were intravenously transferred to host rats and donor cell trafficking in the liver and hepatic lymph was examined. Host hepatic lymph nodes (HLNs) were selectively removed, which allowed liver-derived donor cells to collect in the thoracic duct without transit in the intervening HLNs. Results: The number of donor cells in the thoracic duct lymph significantly increased over the baseline 3, 5 and 11 h after transfer in the HLN-removed, non-pretreated, and HLN-ligated ( in which a lymph efflux was blocked) groups, respectively. Histologically, donor cells appeared in the portal area from 0.5 h after transfer and frequently attached to the basal lamina of portal vein both externally and internally. Three hours after transfer, a few donor cells appeared in the subcapsular sinus of HLNs. Conclusion: The minimal transit time of rat recirculating lymphocytes is 3 - 4 h in the liver and 5 - 8 h in the hepatic LNs, in a normal steady state. Recirculating lymphocytes might transmigrate through the portal vein as well as the sinusoid in the periportal zone. This rapid transit might enable an efficient surveillance of the liver portal area by the recirculating lymphocytes.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available