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The role of core TNF/LIGHT family members in lymph node homeostasis and remodeling
Author(s) -
Zhu Mingzhao,
Fu YangXin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-065x.2011.01061.x
Subject(s) - inflammation , immune system , lymphatic system , immunology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , homeostasis , lymph node , lymph , lymphangiogenesis , biology , lymphotoxin , medicine , cancer research , pathology , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , metastasis
Summary: Lymph nodes (LNs) maintain active homeostasis at steady state. However, in response to changes in the local environment, such as local infection, cancer, vaccination, and autoimmune disease, dramatic remodeling of LN occurs. This remodeling includes changes in size, lymph and blood flow, immune cell trafficking and cellularity, lymphatic and blood vessel growth and activation, as well as microarchitecture. Therefore, inflammatory conditions often lead to enlarged nodes; after local inflammation resolves, LNs actively regress in size and return to steady state. Remodeling of lymphatic vessels (LVs) and blood vessels (BVs) during both the expansion and regression phases are key steps in controlling LN size as well as function. The cells, membrane‐associated molecules, and soluble cytokines that are essential for LV and BV homeostasis as well as dynamic changes in the expansion and regression phases have not been well defined. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms behind LN remodeling would help us to better control undesired immune responses (e.g. inflammation and autoimmune diseases) or promote desired responses (e.g. antitumor immunity and vaccination). In this review, we focus on how the closely related tumor necrosis factor (TNF) members: LIGHT (TNFSF14), lymphotoxin‐αβ, and TNF‐α contribute to the remodeling of LNs at various stages of inflammation.