File:Lymph node cartoon 02.jpg

Cell Trafficking into and out of Lymph Nodes

Lymphocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) enter lymph nodes by different routes.

Lymphocytes

• Most lymphocytes migrating to lymph nodes enter from the peripheral blood.
• Although various types of leukocyte are found in the arteries of lymph nodes, only lymphocytes can interact with and extravasate through high endothelial venules (HEVs) to migrate into the lymph-node parenchyma.
• T and B cells (lymphocytes) subsequently segregate into the T-cell zones and B-cell zones.

Dendritic cells

• DCs, together with small numbers of lymphocytes, enter lymph nodes through the afferent lymphatics.
• then accumulate in the vicinity of high endothelial venules.
• high endothelial venules are surrounded by fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs)

Fibroblastic reticular cells

• (FRCs) form channels (FRC conduits) that project from the subcapsular sinus into the T-cell zone.
• Some chemokines produced extranodally might reach HEVs through the FRC conduit.

Lymph Node Cartoons: Detailed structure | Cartoon with Histology | Lymphocyte traffic | Simple structure | Simple node anatomy | Wiki node image | Internal structure | Mesenteric lymph node | Histology | Gallery | Lymph Node Development

Reference

<pubmed>15122201</pubmed>| Nat Rev Immunol.