Abstract
The lymphotoxin (LT)-β heterotrimer was recently identified as a molecule containing LT-α subunits, tethered to the cell through non-covalent association with an integral plasma membrane protein, derived from the LT-β gene. Since knockout mutations of the LT-α gene yield animals that lack lymph nodes, whereas animals lacking either or both of the receptors for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and LT-α homotrimers have normal lymph nodes, it has been inferred that the association between the LT-β heterotrimer and its cognate receptor is required for lymph node ontogeny. Similarly, LT-β and its receptor are thought to be important for development of the spleen. Since LT-α deficient mice lack lymph nodes, it is difficult to assess the extradevelopmental contribution of LT-β to immune competence. To this end, we employed a strategy for the conditional blockade of LT-β heteromer activity in normal mice. The interaction between LT-β and its receptor is essential for the destruction of intracellular Listeria monocytogenes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 239-247 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Inflammation |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - 1995 |
Keywords
- Listeria monocytogenes
- hepatocyte
- immunity
- infection
- lymphotoxin
- lymphotoxin-β
- macrophage
- receptor
- tumor necrosis factor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine