Endocrine self and gut non-self intersect in the pancreatic lymph nodes
Shannon J Turley, Je-Wook Lee, Nick Dutton-Swain, Diane Mathis, Christophe Benoist, Shannon J Turley, Je-Wook Lee, Nick Dutton-Swain, Diane Mathis, Christophe Benoist
Abstract
The autoimmune cascade that culminates in diabetes initiates within pancreatic lymph nodes (PLNs). Here, we show that developmentally controlled lymphogenesis establishes a preferential trafficking route from the gut to the PLN, where T cells can be activated by antigens drained from the peritoneum and the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, intestinal stress modifies the presentation of pancreatic self-antigens in PLNs. The convergence of endocrine and intestinal contents within PLNs has significant implications for type 1 diabetes and may help to explain the link between autoimmune pathogenesis and environmental provocation.
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Source: PubMed