Clinical relevance of the compartments and lymphocyte subsets in the human spleen.

The compartments and lymphocyte subsets of the human spleen differ from the spleen of rodents. The red pulp removes old red cells or malformed erythrocytes found in spherocytosis. The high blood flow is also necessary to filter bacteria like pneumococci from the blood.

The Functional Unit of the Lymphatic System: Towards Understanding the Importance of a Well-Rehearsed Interaction of Lymphatic Capillaries, Collecting Vessels, and Lymph Nodes.

Introduction: Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes (LNs) are part of the lymphatic system taking care of interstitial tissue homoeostasis, lipid transport, and immune response. The interposition of LNs in between the lymphatic vasculature allows the filtration of lymph fluid, cell-cell interactions, and also the transfer of lymph fluid into the venous system. An important role of lymphatic flow, which is often underestimated, is the active involvement of lymph flow and the lymphatic vasculature in immunologic function.

Comparison of avascular lymph node fragment transplantation techniques to optimize lymphangiogenesis in the minipig model.

Background: Secondary lymphoedema is a challenging pandemic. This condition may arise after oncologic resection of tumor-draining lymph nodes and/or radiation. Plastic-surgical procedures for lymphoedema comprise transplantation of vascularized lymph node flaps, which are, however, technically challenging and difficult to implement on a global level due to the scarcity of microsurgery facilities in some countries.

The bronchus-associated-lymphoid tissue (BALT) an unique lymphoid organ in man and animals.

The development structure and number of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) will be described in many different animals (like chicken, rabbit, mouse, rat, farm animals and particular the pig, monkey) and these data compared to healthy man and in human diseases. The term induced BALT should not be used because it is a tertiary lymphoid structure, which lacks the contact to a bronchus and does not consist of the important area (dome area) which is essential for antigen uptake of microbial stimuli, which are essential in the development of BALT. Mycoplasma seems to play a critical role as shown in pigs but there not been documented in other species like rabbits.

The Hippocratic Oath and the physician's pledge and their potential role early in medical education.

This is a short view point on a possible role of physician's pledges in today's medical careers. The history of the Hippocratic Oath and the Geneva Declaration was depicted and its relevance for education in Anatomy was mooted. Anatomy is taught very early in the medical curriculum and anatomists should behave in an exemplary manner with respect to the dead bodies as well as to medical students as future colleagues.

Macrophage activating lipopeptide 2 is effective in mycobacterial lung infection.

MALP-2, a synthetic lipopeptide is a Toll-like receptor 2 and -6 ligand and agonist. MALP-2 stimulates immune cells at different sites. Local stimulation in the lungs has beneficial effects in experimental pneumococci infection.

Organized lymphatic tissue (BALT) in lungs of rhesus monkeys after air pollutant exposure.

The presence of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) and its size in humans largely depends upon age. It is detected in 35% of children less than 2 years of age, but absent in the healthy adult lung. Environmental gases or allergens may have an effect on the number of BALT.

The pig as a model for immunology research.

The pig is an omnivorous, monogastric species with many advantages to serve as an animal model for human diseases. There are very high similarities to humans in anatomy and functions of the immune system, e g., the presence of tonsils, which are absent in rodents.

Histological characterization of the lingual tonsils of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Tonsils are located in the entrance of digestive and respiratory tracts forming Waldeyer's ring that reacts against ingested or inhaled antigens. On occasion, tonsils may be a site of entry and replication for some pathogens. The lingual tonsils are a main constituent of the Waldeyer's ring.

The thymus is relevant in the migration of mature lymphocytes.

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ where T lymphocyte proliferation and selection takes place. The different subsets of lymphocytes leave the thymus as recent thymic emigrants. Peripheral dendritic cells migrate to the thymus.

Isolated aggregates of lymphoid cells in the inner bronchial wall in asthma patients.

Here, we report findings in volunteers with bronchial asthma. Biopsies were obtained from the inner bronchial wall before and a short time again after segmental allergen provocation. In most of the baseline biopsies and in all evaluable biopsies after segmental allergen provocation, the follicular lymphoid tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry in the epithelium of these asthmatic patients.

The bone marrow is not only a primary lymphoid organ: The critical role for T lymphocyte migration and housing of long-term memory plasma cells.

In immunology and anatomy textbooks the bone marrow is described as a typical "primary lymphoid organ" producing lymphoid cells independent of antigens. The hematopoietic bone marrow is largely age-dependent organ with great anatomical and functional differences among various species. There are estimates that about 12% of all lymphoid cells in the human body are found in the bone marrow at any given time (2% in the peripheral blood).

Effect of cryopreservation on lymph node fragment regeneration after autologous transplantation in the minipig model.

Introduction: Lymphoedema is a worldwide pandemic causing swelling of tissues due to dysfunctional transport of lymph fluid. Present management concepts are based in conservative palliation of symptoms through manual lymphatic drainage, use of compression garments, manual lymph drainage, exercise, and skin care. Nevertheless, some curative options as autologous lymph node transplantation were shown to reduce lymphoedema in selected cases.

Co-localization of lymphoid aggregates and lymphatic networks in nose- (NALT) and lacrimal duct-associated lymphoid tissue (LDALT) of mice.

Background: The lymphatic vascular pattern in the head of mice has rarely been studied, due to problems of sectioning and immunostaining of complex bony structures. Therefore, the association of head lymphoid tissues with the lymphatics has remained unknown although the mouse is the most often used species in immunology.

Results: Here, we studied the association of nasal and nasolacrimal duct lymphatics with lymphoid aggregates in 14-day-old and 2-month-old mice.

Mucosal vaccination by the intranasal route. Nose-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT)-Structure, function and species differences.

The advantage of mucosal vaccination in viral and bacterial infections in different age groups is of enormous clinical relevance. The advantages and potential hazards of intranasal vaccination have always to be considered. The intranasal route for vaccination is very successful for some antigens.

VEGF-C improves regeneration and lymphatic reconnection of transplanted autologous lymph node fragments: An animal model for secondary lymphedema treatment.

Secondary lymphedema occurs after for example breast cancer surgery and radiation in 20-50% of the patients. Due to the poor outcomes of surgical treatments in the past, the therapy often remains symptomatic. However, avascular transplantation of autologous lymph node fragments (LN-Tx) combined with postoperative injections of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) emerges as a potential surgical therapy.

Surgical procedures in lymphedema management.

Objective: Lymphedema has a high incidence and various causes. It reduces patients' quality of life and productivity and currently lacks a cure. Management is based on lifelong physical therapies.

Differential OVA-induced pulmonary inflammation and unspecific reaction in Dark Agouti (DA) rats contingent on CD26/DPPIV deficiency.

Many disease models have shown that, within the species rat, different strains are differentially susceptible to asthma-induced inflammation depending on the genetic background. Likewise, CD26/DPPIV-deficiency in asthmatic F344 rats has been shown to result in a less pronounced inflammation and in increased Treg cell influx into the lung compared to wild-types. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the genetic background of the animals interferes with CD26/DPPIV-deficiency in a model of allergic-like inflammation, or whether the deficiency per se is the predominant regulator of the inflammation.

Maternal deprivation decelerates postnatal morphological lung development of F344 rats.

Intensive medical care at premature born infants is often associated with separation of neonates from their mothers. Here, early artificial prolonged separation of rat pups from their dams (Maternal Deprivation, MD) was used to study potential impact on morphological lung maturation. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of an endogenous deficiency of the neuropeptide-cleaving dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4), since the effects of MD are known to be partly mediated via neuropeptidergic effects, hypothesizing that MD will lead to a retardation of postnatal lung development, DPP4-dependendly.

Effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibition in an animal model of experimental asthma: a matter of dose, route, and time.

The CD26-associated enzymatic activity of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) as well as the recruitment of CD26(+) T cells increase under allergic airway inflammation. Furthermore, genetic deficiency of CD26/DPP4 exerts protective effects in experimental asthma. Therefore, CD26/DPP4 might represent a novel therapeutic target in asthma.

Improved regeneration of autologous transplanted lymph node fragments by VEGF-C treatment.

Secondary lymphedema is a common complication after removal of lymph nodes in combination with radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and melanomas. Only symptomatic therapies are available at the moment, and lymphedema is for most patients a lifelong condition involving psychological and physical disabilities. Animal models exist to study the pathophysiology of lymphedema but not to study surgical treatments.