Koornstra P J, Duijvestijn A M, Vlek L F, Marres E H, van Breda Vriesman P J
Department of Otolaryngology, Academic Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Acta Otolaryngol. 1993 Sep;113(5):660-7. doi: 10.3109/00016489309135881.
Previously we have described the presence of Waldeyer's ring equivalent (WRE) lymphoid tissue in the rat, and pointed out the importance of such an experimental model for studying the immunological role of nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue. Here we extend this work with immunohistological data in terms of compartmentalization and distribution of the various lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells of this WRE lymphoid tissue in situ. WRE tissue consists of distinct T cell and B cell areas. B cell areas predominate; they are located directly under the mucosal epithelium and consist mainly of follicles. These follicles frequently contain a germinal center with IgD negative B cells interspersed with scattered CD4 (helper/inducer) T cells. Follicular dendritic cells are present in the germinal centers. T cell areas, on the other hand, are predominantly present at the abluminal side of the WRE in interfollicular areas. In these areas high endothelial venules and both CD4 and CD8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) T cell populations with a clear preponderance of CD4 over CD8 cells can be observed. MHC class II positive interdigitating dendritic cells are also scattered throughout these T cell areas. Mononuclear phagocytes (ED1-positive monocytes/macrophages) are scattered throughout the WRE, but especially in the T cell areas. A subpopulation of (ED3-positive) mononuclear phagocytes, e.g., the lymphoid tissue macrophage, is exclusively scattered between the small blood vessels along the abluminal side of the lymphoid tissue. Here, plasma cells, including those of the IgA type, are located. The data show that nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissue in the rat can be considered as an immunologically fully equipped and active mucosal lymphoid organ presumably executing similar immune functions as the tonsils in the human Waldeyer's ring.
此前我们已描述过大鼠体内存在瓦尔代尔环等效物（WRE）淋巴组织，并指出了该实验模型对于研究鼻咽淋巴组织免疫作用的重要性。在此，我们通过免疫组织学数据扩展了这项工作，内容涉及该WRE淋巴组织中各种淋巴和非淋巴细胞在原位的分区及分布。WRE组织由不同的T细胞区和B细胞区组成。B细胞区占主导；它们直接位于黏膜上皮下方，主要由滤泡组成。这些滤泡常常含有生发中心，其中IgD阴性B细胞与散在的CD4（辅助/诱导）T细胞相间分布。滤泡树突状细胞存在于生发中心。另一方面，T细胞区主要存在于WRE的管腔外侧滤泡间区域。在这些区域可观察到高内皮微静脉以及CD4和CD8（抑制/细胞毒性）T细胞群体，其中CD4细胞明显多于CD8细胞。MHC II类阳性交错突细胞也散在于这些T细胞区。单核吞噬细胞（ED1阳性单核细胞/巨噬细胞）散在于整个WRE，但在T细胞区尤其多。（ED3阳性）单核吞噬细胞亚群，如淋巴组织巨噬细胞，专门散在于淋巴组织管腔外侧的小血管之间。此处有浆细胞，包括IgA型浆细胞。数据表明，大鼠的鼻咽淋巴组织可被视为一个免疫装备齐全且活跃的黏膜淋巴器官，大概执行着与人类瓦尔代尔环中的扁桃体类似的免疫功能。
