Lymphatic System Histology
Lymphatic System Histology
Lymphatic System Histology
Citation Key
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Lymphatic Histology
M1 Immunology Sequence J. Matthew Velkey, Ph.D.
Winter 2009
Learning Objectives
Text: Ross, 5th ed., pp. 396-441 Atlas: Wheater s, 5th ed., pp. 215-233
1. Understand the distinction between PRIMARY and SECONDARY lymphoid organs 2. Be able to describe the organization and function of:
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymph nodes Spleen Thymus
Diffuse and nodular lymphoid tissue, also including regions of extensive lymphoid infiltration such as Peyer s patches, appendix, and tonsils.
3. Be able to identify the regions rich in B and T lymphocytes in each organ and explain the cellular processes, relevant to immune functions, that are taking place in these regions. 4. Know the homing patterns of B & T lymphocytes.
*Mucosae refers to lining tissue of the body cavities, e.g. GI tract, respiratory tract, genitourinary tract
Primary Lymphoid Organs: The bone marrow and the thymus and the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (e.g. appendix, terminal ileum) are the initial education centers of the immune system In these organs, lymphocytes (T cells in the thymus, B cells in bone marrow and gut) differentiate into immunocompetent cells
(i.e. they can recognize self vs. nonself )
This differentiation is said to be antigen-independent The lymphocytes then enter the blood and lymph to populate: epidermis and mucosae connective tissue secondary lymphoid organs
Secondary Lymphoid Organs: The lymph nodes, lymphatic nodules, tonsils, spleen are the secondary education centers of the immune system In these organs, immunocompetent lymphocytes differentiate into immune effector and memory cells that undergo antigendependent activation and proliferation in these organs. These lymphocytes then carry out their functions in the: connective tissue secondary lymphoid organs mucosal surfaces lining epithelia They participate in: Cell mediated immunity (mostly cytotoxic T cells) Humoral responses (production of antibody) (B cells, also requires helper T cells.
lymphocyte
These are B and T-cells that have undergone antigen-INDEPENDENT differentiation and are trafficking through the bloodstream on their way to lymphoid organs/tissue.
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Tether
Roll
Arrest
Migrate
blood flow
cytokines
chemokines
L. Stoolman
Intraepithelial lymphocytes
Shown here in resp. epith. Homing mediated by addressins (a sort of lymphocyte GPS )
LN
Secondary follicles/nodules
Contain germinal centers Arise when B-lymphocytes are presented with appropriate antigen, receive T-cell help, and then begin proliferating as lymphoblasts Lymphoblasts differentiate into plasma cells or memory cells; aberrant lymphoblasts undergo apoptosis.
Modified intestinal epithelial cells that assist in antigen presentation by conveying macromolecules from the intestinal lumen to underlying compartments housing lymphocytes and macrophages.
Microfold, or M CELLS
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M cells: TEM
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After antigen presentation and T-cell help, activated B-cells set up germinal centers in secondary follicles
Secondary follicle germinal centers Arise when B-lymphocytes are presented with appropriate antigen, receive T-cell help, and then begin proliferating as lymphoblasts Lymphoblasts differentiate into plasma cells or memory cells; aberrant lymphoblasts undergo apoptosis.
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EM of Plasma Cells
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So, associated with just about any mucosa (GI, respiratory, genitourinary), you may see:
Primary nodules Secondary nodules Germinal center with lymphoblasts and mphages
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Appendix
Blind sac extending from the caecum
primary and secondary follicles in lamina propria and submucosa So, clearly a secondary lymphoid organ However, also a site of antigen-INDEPENDENT differentiation (similar to Bursa of Fabriscus is birds) So, also a primary lymphoid organ
Sorry about the various primary and secondary nomenclature; that s just the way it is
TONSILS
The palatine tonsils are paired structures made of dense accumulations of lymphatic tissue located in the mucous membrane of the junction of the oropharynx and oral cavity. The tonsils dip down into the underlying CT, forming crypts. There are also lingual tonsils and pharyngeal tonsils (under the roof of the nasopharynx and around the opening of the Eustachian tubes). Key features: crypts, abundant nodules, stratified squamous epithelium
Wanderlust:
lymphocytes don t just stay in one place
From the MALT, lymphocytes can squeeze into lymph vessels
Lymph Nodes
Main functions: 1. Filter lymph, thereby promoting lymphocyte contact with antigen 2. Provides necessary microenvironment for antigen-dependent differentiation
Lymphoid circulation in the body takes place in both the blood stream and the lymphatic vessels, a separate vessel system that carries cells of the lymphoid system and their products (cytokines, antibodies, etc.).
2. 3. 4.
5.
deep cortex (T-cells, dendritic cells) - Medulla: medullary cords (B-cells, plasma cells) medullary sinuses (lymph, more
macrophages, plasma cells, and reticular cells)
From the sub-capsular sinus, lymph percolates through trabecular sinuses, and finally into medullary sinuses
Top left: Ross and Pawlina, Histology: A Text and Atlas. Others: Sources Undetermined
Medullary sinuses drain into EFFERENT lymphatics that exit from the hilum of the lymph node
1. 2. 3. 4.
Blood enters through an artery at the hilus Arterioles branch from hilar artery to feed into capillary beds Capillary beds are drained by high endothelial venules* HEVs drain into hilar vein Image of lymph node blood circulation removed
*HEVs are sites where lymphocytes can leave blood stream to enter the lymph node tissue bed.
ule caps
Site of:
Fluid absorption (via aquaporin-1 channels), which causes lymph flow EXIT of lymphocytes from bloodstream via diapedesis
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HEV endothelial cells express selectins and other receptors for antigen-primed lymphocytes that stimulate them to EXIT bloodstream via diapedesis
~90% enter this way; mostly nave lymphocytes
T-cells move to deep cortex; B-cells migrate to superficial cortex; differentiated plasma cells move to medullary cords and secrete IgG into lymph Lymphocytes may leave lymph node via EFFERENT lymph vessels (can rejoin bloodstream via thoracic duct, jugular vein, etc.)
The Spleen
Filters the blood Destroys old red blood cells Serves as an immune organ Divided into Red Pulp (RBC/ hemoglobin recycling) White Pulp (responsible for immune functions)
Formation of blood cells in fetal life Removal and destruction of RBCs & platelets Retrieval of iron from RBC hemoglobin Storage of RBCs and platelets (more so in non-human species)
Spleen: anatomy
Grays Anatomy
Spleen: anatomy
Ross, 14.29
Splenic Circulation
1. Blood enters via splenic artery at hilus 2. Splenic artery branches into trabecular arteries (which travel within connective tissue trabeculae). 3. Trabecular arteries give off branches known as central arteries which leave the trabecula and enter the substance of the spleen (covered by a peri-arterial lymphatic sheath). 4. Central arteries branch into penicillar arterioles that piece through the lymphatic sheath and spill into splenic cords. 5. Blood percolates through splenic cords and across walls of splenic sinuses. 6. Splenic sinuses drain into pulp veins. 7. Pulp veins drain into trabecular veins. 8. Trabecular veins drain into splenic vein at the hilus.
Circulation in the human spleen is primarily OPEN: blood pours into the red pulp, percolates through red pulp cords, and re-enters the bloodstream at splenic sinuses
NOTE: NO afferent lymph vessels not necessary because lymphocytes can easily enter splenic parenchyma via open circulation pattern.
Blood and antigens pour into red pulp (more on that later) Antigen presentation takes place in MARGINAL ZONE T-cells (from PALS) provide help to activate mphages and B-cells
activated mphages stimulated to destroy ingested material (e.g. bacteria) activated B-cells set up proliferative germinal centers
As the body is exposed to antigens and the immune system mounts an immune response in the form of antibody production, lymph nodules (w/ germinal centers) appear in the white pulp of the spleen.
RP= red pulp MZ= marginal zone (antigen presentation) dashed circle = T-cell rich zone
The cords contain, RBCs, neutrophils (N), macrophages (M), blood platelets (P) A reticular cell framework (RC) supports the cord. The sinus is bounded by the epithelial cells that form the basket-like structure of the sinus (VS)
Ross 14.30a
Here, you are inside the sinus looking through to the cord, where both a macrophage (M) and a neutrophil (N) are outside the sinus. Note that the endothelial cells have a rodlike appearance.
C
Image of splenic sinuses and cords removed
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Sinuses drain into splenic pulp veins, which, in turn, drain into trabecular veins. Trabecular veins travel within trabeculae and drain into splenic vein at the hilus.
SPLENIC CIRCULATION
red pulp
white pulp
The Thymus
T-cell education Self vs. nonself distinctions Cell-mediated immune functions Populates effector organs Lymph nodes Lymphatic nodules Spleen Tonsils
Ross, Fig. 14.1
The Thymus is a Primary Lymphoid (Immune) Organ Responsible For the Education of T-Cells Located over the great vessels of the heart in the area of the body called the mediastinum Develops from an invagination of EPITHELIUM of the 3rd pharyngeal pouch, so an endodermal organ. Specialized epithelial cells (called epithioreticular cells) that are joined to one another by long processes with desmosomes on the extremities of the cells (like starfish joined together at the tips) make up the bag-like support for: Lymphocytes that, when the organ is young, fill this bag . NOTE: There are generally no B cells in the Thymus.
Grays Anatomy
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The Thymus undergoes a process called THYMIC INVOLUTION, as T cells leave the thymus to populate other lymphoid effector organs, the organ shrinks, leaving only the epithelioretucular cells
U-M Histology Collection
Thymus at puberty
U-M Histology Collection
4.Differentiate into helper (CD4+) or cytotoxic (CD8+) T-cells and leave medulla via diapedesis across venules
Arterioles & capillaries in the thymic cortex are ensheathed by epithelioreticular cells forming a blood-thymus barrier.
Blood-Thymus Barrier
Education of T-cells must occur in a very controlled environment such that antigens are ONLY presented by epithelial reticular cells. To ensure that no other cells or free antigens are present, there is a very tight BLOOD-THYMUS BARRIER consisting of:
1. The blood capillary wall
endothelial cells endothelial cell basal laminae pericytes
(NOTE: T-cells can enter thymus ONLY via bloodstream NO AFFERENT LYMPH VESSELS!)
Macrophage
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T-cells that survive selection process allowed to cross venule endothelium (INTRAvasation) to enter circulation.
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Hassall s corpuscles
Type VI ERCs; function not very well known, but produce interleukins (such as IL-4 and IL-7) and so likely influence T-cell differentiation
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In the medulla, epithelioreticular cells form onionized structures called Hassall s corpuscles quite prevalent in older thymus LM view EM view
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Slide 37: U-M Histology Collection Slide 38: U-M Histology Collection Slide 39: U-M Histology Collection Slide 40: Source Undetermined Slide 41: Ross and Pawlina, Histology: A Text and Atlas; Source Undetermined (Rest of Images) Slide 42: U-M Histology Collection Slide 43: Original Image: Ross, fig. 14.18 Slide 44: U-M Histology Collection Slide 45: U-M Histology Collection Slide 46: Source Undetermined Slide 47: Source undetermined Slide 48: Source Undetermined Slide 49: Source Undetermined Slide 51: Ross, fig. 14.18 Slide 53: Gray s Anatomy Slide 54: Cancer.gov, Wikipedia, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illu_spleen.jpg Slide 55: Ross 14.29 Slide 57: Original Image: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/histology/images/histology/lymph/display/lymph20015.jpg Slide 58: Wheater s, Functional Histology, Fifth Edition, 2006 Slide 59: U-M Histology Collection Slide 60: U-M Histology Collection Slide 61: U-M Histology Collection Slide 62: Ross. Plate 35-3 Slide 63: Ross 14.30a Slide 64: U-M Histology Collection Slide 65: Ross and Pawlina, Histology: A Text and Atlas; Source Undetermined Slide 66: Ross and Pawlina. Plate 36. Figure 1, 2, 3.; Original Image http://immuneweb.xxmu.edu.cn/Lymphoid%20System.files/UntiHE20.jpeg Slide 67: Source Undetermined Slide 68: U-M Histology Collection Slide 69: Ross Fig. 14.1 Slide 71: Ross and Pawlina, Histology: A Text and Atlas; Gray s Anatomy Slide 72: Source Undetermined Slide 73: U-M Histology Collection; U-M Histology Collection Slide 74: Original Image from http://www.nature.com/nri/journal/v6/n2/images/nri1781-f4.jpg Slide 77: Source Undetermined Slide 78: Source Undetermined Slide 79: Source Undetermined Slide 80: Source Undetermined Slide 81: Source Undetermined Slide 82: Source Undetermined
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