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Lymphocyte homeostasis and immune surveillance require that T and B cells continuously recirculate between secondary lymphoid organs. Here, we used intravital microscopy to define lymphocyte trafficking routes within the spleen, an environment of open blood circulation and shear forces unlike other lymphoid organs. Upon release from arterioles into the red pulp sinuses, T cells latched onto perivascular stromal cells in a manner that was independent of the chemokine receptor CCR7 but sensitive to Gi protein-coupled receptor inhibitors. This latching sheltered T cells from blood flow and enabled unidirectional migration to the bridging channels and then to T zones, entry into which required CCR7. Inflammatory responses modified the chemotactic cues along the perivascular homing paths, leading to rapid block of entry. Our findings reveal a role for vascular structures in lymphocyte recirculation through the spleen, indicating the existence of separate entry and exit routes and that of a checkpoint located at the gate to the T zone.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.immuni.2020.03.010

Type

Journal article

Journal

Immunity

Publication Date

05/2020

Volume

52

Pages

794 - 807.e7

Addresses

University of Oxford, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, OX3 7FY Oxford, UK.

Keywords

Spleen, B-Lymphocytes, Lymphocytes, T-Lymphocytes, Animals, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Humans, Luminescent Proteins, Signal Transduction, Cell Movement, Immunologic Surveillance, Receptors, CCR7, Intravital Microscopy