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Immunology of a Lymph Node

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Lymph Node Metastasis in Gastrointestinal Cancer

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Abstract

Lymph nodes are the organs where an acquired immune response takes place rapidly (after infection) under the influence of antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells. Because the chance to encounter foreign antigens for each lymphocyte is quite small, lymphocytes keep moving through the whole body until they encounter a matching antigen-presenting cell. Antigens and dendritic cells enter the lymph node through afferent lymphatic vessels and migrate deep into lymph nodes to activate T lymphocytes. Naïve lymphocytes enter lymph nodes from blood through high endothelial venules (HEVs): specialized blood vessels found in secondary lymphoid tissues except for the spleen. Within lymph nodes, stromal cells interact closely with lymphocytes and dendritic cells, providing scaffolds on which these cells migrate. More recently, stromal cells were found to induce tolerance. This review summarizes the present understanding of the mechanisms regulating the movement of lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells through the lymph node. In addition, lymph nodes are necessary for the induction of tolerance against harmless antigens. The fundamental understanding of how the lymphatic system participates in immune regulation is necessary for elucidation of the lymphatic function in various diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan

    Ryota Hokari

  2. International University of Health and Welfare Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan

    Soichiro Miura

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Correspondence to Ryota Hokari .

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  1. Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kagoshima, Japan

    Shoji Natsugoe

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Hokari, R., Miura, S. (2019). Immunology of a Lymph Node. In: Natsugoe, S. (eds) Lymph Node Metastasis in Gastrointestinal Cancer. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4699-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4699-5_4

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