Lymph Node Swelling Explained

Lymph nodes usually swell during microbial infection as a result of T cell entrapment. As such, lymph nodes are the epicenter of the immune system, because certain cells within these structures switch on the T cells and direct them to commence fighting infection. Soman Abraham and colleagues now report that mice with no mast cells (the cells famous for releasing histamine during allergy attacks) did not suffer from swollen lymph nodes when infected with bacteria. When these mice were injected with mast cells, their lymph nodes could swell. Researchers found that mast cells needed be able to produce the immune modulator tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Injection of a chemical compound that activates mast cells also induced lymph node swelling through production of TNF, a swelling accompanied by recruitment of T cells to the lymph node. These results highlight the two-faced nature of mast cells: critical to jump-start our fight against infection, but responsible for our misery during an allergic reaction.

Author contact:

Soman N. Abraham
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC, USA
Tel: +1 919 684 3630
E-mail: abrah006@mc.duke.edu

Additional contact for comment on paper:

Stephen J. Galli
Stanford University Medical School
Stanford, CA, USA
Tel: +1 650 723 7975
E-mail: sgalli@stanford.edu

Also available online.

(C) Nature Immunology Press Release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza