Sphingosine-1-phosphate agonists increase macrophage homing, lymphocyte contacts, and endothelial junctional complex formation in murine lymph nodes

II Singer, M Tian, LA Wickham, J Lin… - The Journal of …, 2005 - journals.aai.org
II Singer, M Tian, LA Wickham, J Lin, SS Matheravidathu, MJ Forrest, S Mandala…
The Journal of Immunology, 2005journals.aai.org
Abstract The sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist, phosphorylated FTY720
(FTY-P), causes lymphopenia, lymphocyte sequestration in mesenteric lymph nodes
(MLNs), and immunosuppression. Using multiple techniques to analyze MLN cells
harvested from mice treated with S1P receptor agonists, we saw a redistribution of
lymphocytes out of nodal sinuses and an expansion of follicles. Although changes in
circulating monocytes were not observed with overnight exposure to FTY720, we saw a …
Abstract
The sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist, phosphorylated FTY720 (FTY-P), causes lymphopenia, lymphocyte sequestration in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and immunosuppression. Using multiple techniques to analyze MLN cells harvested from mice treated with S1P receptor agonists, we saw a redistribution of lymphocytes out of nodal sinuses and an expansion of follicles. Although changes in circulating monocytes were not observed with overnight exposure to FTY720, we saw a significant increase in S1P receptor 1 (S1P 1)-expressing CD68+ macrophages in subcapsular sinuses of FTY-P-treated MLNs. This was confirmed by quantitative analysis of F4/80+ cells in MLN suspensions. The sinus volume and number of S1P 1-positive cells within sinuses were also increased by FTY-P. High endothelial venules and lymphatic endothelium expressed high levels of S1P 1, and treatment with FTY-P resulted in intense staining and colocalization of CD31, β-catenin, and zona occludens 1 in junctions between sinus cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed that FTY-P greatly reduced lymphocyte microvilli and increased cell-cell contacts in the parenchyma. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that intranodal lymphocytes lacked surface expression of S1P 1, whereas S1P 1 was evident on the surface and within the cytoplasm of macrophages, endothelial cells, and stromal cells. This subcellular pattern of intranodal receptor distribution was unchanged by treatment with FTY-P. We conclude that S1P 1 agonists have profound effects on macrophages and endothelial cells, in addition to inducing lymphopenia.
journals.aai.org