Abstract
Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) form the structure of the lymphatic vessels and the sinuses of the lymph nodes, positioning them to be key players in many different aspects of the immune response. Following an inflammatory stimulus, LECs produce chemokines that recruit immune cells to the lymph nodes. The recruitment of immune cells aids in the coordination of both LEC and lymph node expansion and contraction. More recent data has demonstrated that to coordinate LEC division and death, cell surface molecules, such as PD-L1 and interferon receptors, are required. During homeostasis, LECs use PD-L1 to maintain peripheral tolerance by presenting specific peripheral tissue antigens in order to eliminate tissue specific responses. LECs also have the capacity to acquire, present, and exchange foreign antigens following viral infection or immunization. Here we will review how lymph node LECs require immune cells to expand and contract in response to an immune stimulus, the factors involved and how direct LEC-immune cell interactions are important for programming immunity.
Introduction
Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) are a specialized subset of endothelial cells that comprise lymphatic vessels in the tissue and lymph node (LN). LECs interact with innate and adaptive immune cells both in the tissue and in the LN. LECs have the capacity to produce chemokines in order to recruit immune cells to the LN. Of the chemokines that LECs produce, CCL21 has been implicated in the recruitment of dendritic cells (DC), which in turn promotes LN expansion (–). Regulation of LN LEC division and death during LN expansion and contraction is a complicated process to which innate immune cells, adaptive immune cells, and specific signaling molecules contribute. Furthermore, LN LECs not only receive signals from immune cells, but also provide signals to the adaptive immune system to regulate peripheral tolerance and protective immunity. In this review we will highlight how LN LEC interactions and signaling regulate LECs in the LN in response to an inflammatory insult and how LECs program the immune response.
Regulation of LN LEC Division by the Innate Immune System During Inflammation
During an inflammatory response, the LN must expand to allow for the rapid influx and division of responding lymphocytes. To do this, several coordinated processes in the LN occur: (1) the secretion of chemokines and cytokines and thus the recruitment of innate immune cells; (2) the relaxation of the fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) network; (3) the division of the stromal cells in the lymph node; (4) the adaptive immune response and (5) the contraction of the LN.
Between 0 and 24 h following an inflammatory stimulus both type 1 and type 2 interferon (IFN) production is increased, which inhibits LEC division () (Figure 1A). Why LEC division is inhibited at this time point is unclear, however this time point coincides with increased expression of CCL19 and 21 by LN stromal cells (, ). Dendritic cells (DC) are recruited to the LN through interactions between CCR7 and CCL19 and 21 (–) (Figure 1A). Following DC recruitment to the LN, LEC division is initiated. CD11c+ DCs have been shown to lead to LEC proliferation through LEC-DC contact, a process that is ablated following CD11c+ cell depletion (). Further work showed that DCs regulate the relaxation of the FRC network through the interaction of C-type lectin like 2 (CLEC-2) with podoplanin (PDPN) on the FRCs (–). CLEC-2 binding inhibits PDPN signaling, resulting in FRC elongation and increased LN elasticity (). PDPN expression by LECs and binding by CLEC-2 also elicits the expansion of LECs in the LN (, ). In addition to PDPN engagement, DC initiation of LEC proliferation also occurs by inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by FRCs in the lymph node (, ). Early LEC proliferation appears to be independent of T and B cells, as transfer of bone marrow derived dendritic cells into a mouse that lacks T or B cells can elicit LEC expansion at early timepoints following an immune stimulus (). Thus, DC-stromal interactions are part of the initial step in the expansion of the LN following an inflammatory insult (Figure 1B).
Figure 1
In addition to DCs, macrophages have an important role in regulating lymphangiogenesis in response to inflammation through the production of VEGF, specifically, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and to a lesser extent, VEGF-A (
Although the mechanisms by which innate immune cells influence LN LEC expansion during an inflammatory response have been fairly well-studied, less is known about the transcription and signaling that occur within the LEC. The primary signals that LECs receive to induce division include VEGF receptor (VEGFR) engagement as described above. However, other factors are involved, including IL-7 which is important for LEC remodeling (
PD-L1 has also been shown to be involved in determining which LECs divide. In both mice that are PD-L1 deficient and mice in which the non-hematopoietic cells lack PD-L1, LEC division was significantly increased at 6 days after polyI:C injection (
Regulation of LEC Expansion by the Adaptive Immune System During Inflammation
While DCs and macrophages contribute to LEC division at early timepoints during an immune response (Figure 1B), B cells have been shown to influence LEC division at the peak of the immune response (Figure 1D). Following immunization with complete Freund's adjuvant, B cell recruitment to the lymph node was required for LEC expansion. In a mouse model where B cells lack L-selectin, an adhesion molecule necessary for lymphocyte migration across high endothelial venules in the LNs, LEC expansion was impaired due to the loss of VEGF-A production in the follicle (
Others have shown that in addition to B cells, T cells are also involved in LN and LEC division. First, the lack of both B and T cells led to an almost complete loss of vascular-stromal expansion at later timepoints following complete Freund's adjuvant (
LEC Apoptosis and LN Contraction During Resolution of the Immune Response
While LEC expansion is important for coordinating the immune response, LEC contraction must also occur during the resolution of the immune response. Very little has been done to understand how this process occurs, however, in an athymic mouse, LN lymphatic vessel density is dramatically increased (
While not directly regulating LEC contraction, PD-L1 does appear to specifically control LEC survival. These findings predict that PD-L1 may determine which LECs undergo apoptosis during LN contraction (
Figure 2

Mechanisms of immune regulation by LECs. (A) PD-L1 on LECs inhibits LEC apoptosis and regulates peripheral immune tolerance. PD-L1 negatively regulates cleaved caspase 3/7 production, resulting in decreased apoptosis of LECs that express PD-L1 (
LECs Balance Opposing Roles During an Immune Response
While LEC expansion and contraction in the lymph node is important for the immune response, LECs also have a major role in programming the adaptive immune response. As stated above, some LECs in the lymph node express PD-L1 at high levels (
LECs also have a role in the maintenance of protective memory through the archiving of foreign antigens following both immunization and viral infection (
What mechanisms regulate the different functions of LECs during the transition from homeostasis to an immune response are not fully understood. An inflammatory signal is needed to prevent LECs from presenting foreign antigen in a tolerizing manner, and a role for LEC expansion has been described in antigen archiving. Following immunization, LECs will acquire, but will not archive antigen unless the LECs are expanding (
Summary
Further research is needed to fully explore novel regulators of LEC expansion and contraction, including PD-L1 and CXCL4. How LECs function to both maintain peripheral tolerance and promote protective immunity is also not well-understood. Understanding these processes, and how LECs can determine the fate of the immune response, are likely very important in the prevention of autoimmunity as well as the development of a strong memory response. Therefore, future studies of LN LECs during an active immune response may lead to novel therapeutic targets in a wide range of diseases.
Statements
Author contributions
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
Funding
This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R01 AI121209) to BT and the National Institutes of Health (T32 AI007405) to EL.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Dr. Matthew Burchill, Dr. Colm Collins, and Dr. Anne Tye for critical reading of the manuscript.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
1.
BromleySKThomasSYLusterAD. Chemokine receptor CCR7 guides T cell exit from peripheral tissues and entry into afferent lymphatics. Nat Immunol. (2005) 6:895–901. 10.1038/ni1240
2.
DebesGFArnoldCNYoungAJKrautwaldSLippMHayJBet al. Chemokine receptor CCR7 required for T lymphocyte exit from peripheral tissues. Nat Immunol. (2005) 6:889–94. 10.1038/ni1238
3.
TalOLimHYGurevichIMiloIShiponyZNgLGet al. DC mobilization from the skin requires docking to immobilized CCL21 on lymphatic endothelium and intralymphatic crawling. J Exp Med. (2011) 208:2141–53. 10.1084/jem.20102392
4.
WeberMHauschildRSchwarzJMoussionCDeVries ILeglerDFet al. Interstitial dendritic cell guidance by haptotactic chemokine gradients. Science (2013) 339:328–32. 10.1126/science.1228456
5.
LucasEDFinlonJMBurchillMAMccarthyMKMorrisonTEColpittsTMet al. Type 1 IFN and PD-L1 coordinate lymphatic endothelial cell expansion and contraction during an inflammatory immune response. J Immunol. (2018) 201:1735–47. 10.4049/jimmunol.1800271
6.
WebsterBEklandEHAgleLMChyouSRuggieriRLuTT. Regulation of lymph node vascular growth by dendritic cells. J Exp Med. (2006) 203:1903–13. 10.1084/jem.20052272
7.
KataruRPJungKJangCYangHSchwendenerRABaikJEet al. Critical role of CD11b+ macrophages and VEGF in inflammatory lymphangiogenesis, antigen clearance, and inflammation resolution. Blood (2009) 113:5650–9. 10.1182/blood-2008-09-176776
8.
ChyouSBenahmedFChenJKumarVTianSLippMet al. Coordinated regulation of lymph node vascular-stromal growth first by CD11c+ cells and then by T and B cells. J Immunol. (2011) 187:5558–67. 10.4049/jimmunol.1101724
9.
TanKWYeoKPWongFHLimHYKhooKLAbastadoJPet al. Expansion of cortical and medullary sinuses restrains lymph node hypertrophy during prolonged inflammation. J Immunol. (2012) 188:4065–80. 10.4049/jimmunol.1101854
10.
MalhotraDFletcherALAstaritaJLukacs-KornekVTayaliaPGonzalezSFet al. Transcriptional profiling of stroma from inflamed and resting lymph nodes defines immunological hallmarks. Nat Immunol. (2012) 13:499–510. 10.1038/ni.2262
11.
OnderLNarangPScandellaEChaiQIolyevaMHoorwegKet al. IL-7-producing stromal cells are critical for lymph node remodeling. Blood (2012) 120:4675–83. 10.1182/blood-2012-03-416859
12.
AngeliVGinhouxFLlodraJQuemeneurLFrenettePSSkobeMet al. B cell-driven lymphangiogenesis in inflamed lymph nodes enhances dendritic cell mobilization. Immunity (2006) 24:203–15. 10.1016/j.immuni.2006.01.003
13.
ShresthaBHashiguchiTItoTMiuraNTakenouchiKOyamaYet al. B cell-derived vascular endothelial growth factor A promotes lymphangiogenesis and high endothelial venule expansion in lymph nodes. J Immunol. (2010) 184:4819–26. 10.4049/jimmunol.0903063
14.
KataruRPKimHJangCChoiDKKohBIKimMet al. T lymphocytes negatively regulate lymph node lymphatic vessel formation. Immunity (2011) 34:96–107. 10.1016/j.immuni.2010.12.016
15.
TamburiniBABurchillMAKedlRM. Antigen capture and archiving by lymphatic endothelial cells following vaccination or viral infection. Nat Commun. (2014) 5:3989. 10.1038/ncomms4989
16.
DubeyLKKarempudiPLutherSALudewigBHarrisNL. Interactions between fibroblastic reticular cells and B cells promote mesenteric lymph node lymphangiogenesis. Nat Commun. (2017) 8:367. 10.1038/s41467-017-00504-9
17.
PietilaTEVeckmanVLehtonenALinRHiscottJJulkunenI. Multiple NF- B and IFN regulatory factor family transcription factors regulate CCL19 gene expression in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. J Immunol. (2006) 178:253–61. 10.4049/jimmunol.178.1.253
18.
JohnsonLAJacksonDG. Inflammation-induced secretion of CCL21 in lymphatic endothelium is a key regulator of integrin-mediated dendritic cell transmigration. Int Immunol. (2010) 22:839–49. 10.1093/intimm/dxq435
19.
GunnMDTangemannKTamCCysterJGRosenSDWilliamsLT. A chemokine expressed in lymphoid high endothelial venules promotes the adhesion and chemotaxis of naive T lymphocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (1998) 95:258–63. 10.1073/pnas.95.1.258
20.
ForsterRSchubelABreitfeldDKremmerERenner-MullerIWolfEet al. CCR7 coordinates the primary immune response by establishing functional microenvironments in secondary lymphoid organs. Cell (1999) 99:23–33. 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80059-8
21.
OhlLMohauptMCzelothNHintzenGKiafardZZwirnerJet al. CCR7 governs skin dendritic cell migration under inflammatory and steady-state conditions. Immunity (2004) 21:279–88. 10.1016/j.immuni.2004.06.014
22.
ActonSEAstaritaJLMalhotraDLukacs-KornekVFranzBHessPRet al. Podoplanin-rich stromal networks induce dendritic cell motility via activation of the C-type lectin receptor CLEC-2. Immunity (2012) 37:276–89. 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.05.022
23.
ActonSEFarrugiaAJAstaritaJLMourao-SaDJenkinsRPNyeEet al. Dendritic cells control fibroblastic reticular network tension and lymph node expansion. Nature (2014) 514:498–502. 10.1038/nature13814
24.
AstaritaJLCremascoVFuJDarnellMCPeckJRNieves-BonillaJMet al. The CLEC-2-podoplanin axis controls the contractility of fibroblastic reticular cells and lymph node microarchitecture. Nat Immunol. (2014) 16:75–84. 10.1038/ni.3035
25.
MaruyamaYMaruyamaKKatoYKajiyaKMoritohSYamamotoKet al. The effect of podoplanin inhibition on lymphangiogenesis under pathological conditions. Invest Opthalmol Visual Sci. (2014) 55:4813–22. 10.1167/iovs.13-13711
26.
KedlRMLindsayRSFinlonJMLucasEDFriedmanRSTamburiniBJ. Migratory dendritic cells acquire and present lymphatic endothelial cell-archived antigens during lymph node contraction. Nat Commun. (2017) 8:2034. 10.1038/s41467-017-02247-z
27.
MaruyamaKIiMCursiefenCJacksonDGKeinoHTomitaMet al. Inflammation-induced lymphangiogenesis in the cornea arises from CD11b-positive macrophages. J Clin Invest. (2005) 115:2363–72. 10.1172/JCI23874
28.
KimKEKohY-JJeonB-HJangCHanJKataruRPet al. Role of CD11b + macrophages in intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide-induced aberrant lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic function in the diaphragm. Am J Pathol. (2009) 175:1733–45. 10.2353/ajpath.2009.090133
29.
ShiVYBaoLChanLS. Inflammation-driven dermal lymphangiogenesis in atopic dermatitis is associated with CD11b+ macrophage recruitment and VEGF-C up-regulation in the IL-4-transgenic mouse model. Microcirculation (2012) 19:567–79. 10.1111/j.1549-8719.2012.00189.x
30.
TanKWChongSZWongFHEvrardMTanSMKeebleJet al. Neutrophils contribute to inflammatory lymphangiogenesis by increasing VEGF-A bioavailability and secreting VEGF-D. Blood (2013) 122:3666–77. 10.1182/blood-2012-11-466532
31.
PerolletCHanZCSavonaCCaenJPBikfalviA. Platelet factor 4 modulates fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) activity and inhibits FGF-2 dimerization. Blood (1998) 91:3289–99.
32.
BikfalviA. Platelet factor 4: an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Semin Thromb Hemost. (2004) 30:379–85. 10.1055/s-2004-831051
33.
BikfalviA. Recent developments in the inhibition of angiogenesis: examples from studies on platelet factor-4 and the VEGF/VEGFR system. Biochem Pharmacol. (2004) 68:1017–21. 10.1016/j.bcp.2004.05.030
34.
TanjoreHZeisbergEMGerami-NainiBKalluriR. Beta1 integrin expression on endothelial cells is required for angiogenesis but not for vasculogenesis. Dev Dyn. (2008) 237:75–82. 10.1002/dvdy.21385
35.
MalanDWenzelDSchmidtAGeisenCRaibleABolckBet al. Endothelial beta1 integrins regulate sprouting and network formation during vascular development. Development (2010) 137:993–1002. 10.1242/dev.045377
36.
LiSNieEHYinYBenowitzLITungSVintersHVet al. GDF10 is a signal for axonal sprouting and functional recovery after stroke. Nat Neurosci. (2015) 18:1737–45. 10.1038/nn.4146
37.
SaharinenPTammelaTKarkkainenMJAlitaloK. Lymphatic vasculature: development, molecular regulation and role in tumor metastasis and inflammation. Trends Immunol. (2004) 25:387–95. 10.1016/j.it.2004.05.003
38.
RoddaLBLuEBennettMLSokolCLWangXLutherSAet al. Single-cell RNA sequencing of lymph node stromal cells reveals niche-associated heterogeneity. Immunity(2018) 48:1014–1028 e1016. 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.006
39.
CohenJNGuidiCJTewaltEFQiaoHRouhaniSJRuddellAet al. Lymph node-resident lymphatic endothelial cells mediate peripheral tolerance via Aire-independent direct antigen presentation. J Exp Med. (2010) 207:681–8. 10.1084/jem.20092465
40.
TewaltEFCohenJNRouhaniSJGuidiCJQiaoHFahlSPet al. Lymphatic endothelial cells induce tolerance via PD-L1 and lack of costimulation leading to high-level PD-1 expression on CD8 T cells. Blood (2012) 120:4772–82. 10.1182/blood-2012-04-427013
41.
DubrotJDuraesFVPotinLCapotostiFBrighouseDSuterTet al. Lymph node stromal cells acquire peptide-MHCII complexes from dendritic cells and induce antigen-specific CD4+ T cell tolerance. J Exp Med. (2014) 211:1153–66. 10.1084/jem.20132000
42.
RouhaniSJEcclesJDRiccardiPPeskeJDTewaltEFCohenJNet al. Roles of lymphatic endothelial cells expressing peripheral tissue antigens in CD4 T-cell tolerance induction. Nat Commun. (2015) 6:6771. 10.1038/ncomms7771
43.
JinYChauhanSKElAnnan JSagePTSharpeAHDanaR. A novel function for programmed death ligand-1 regulation of angiogenesis. Am J Pathol. (2011) 178:1922–9. 10.1016/j.ajpath.2010.12.027
44.
AzumaTYaoSZhuGFliesASFliesSJChenL. B7-H1 is a ubiquitous antiapoptotic receptor on cancer cells. Blood (2008) 111:3635–43. 10.1182/blood-2007-11-123141
45.
GhebehHLeheCBarhoushEAl-RomaihKTulbahAAl-AlwanMet al. Doxorubicin downregulatescell surface B7-H1 expression and upregulates its nuclear expression in breast cancer cells: role of B7-H1 as an anti-apoptotic molecule. Breast Cancer Res. (2010) 12:R48. 10.1186/bcr2605
46.
Gato-CanasMZuazoMArasanzHIbanez-VeaMLorenzoLFernandez-HinojalGet al. PDL1 Signals through conserved sequence motifs to overcome interferon-mediated cytotoxicity. Cell Rep. (2017) 20:1818–29. 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.07.075
47.
CohenJNTewaltEFRouhaniSJBuonomoELBruceANXuXet al. Tolerogenic properties of lymphatic endothelial cells are controlled by the lymph node microenvironment. PLoS ONE (2014) 9:e87740. 10.1371/journal.pone.0087740
48.
KeirMEButteMJFreemanGJSharpeAH. PD-1 and its ligands in tolerance and immunity. Annu Rev Immunol. (2008) 26:677–704. 10.1146/annurev.immunol.26.021607.090331
49.
BardhanKAnagnostouTBoussiotisVA. The PD1:PD-L1/2 pathway from discovery to clinical implementation. Front Immunol. (2016) 7:550. 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00550
50.
SchutzFStefanovicSMayerLVonAu ADomschkeCSohnC. PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in breast cancer. Oncol Res Treat. (2017) 40:294–7. 10.1159/000464353
51.
KythreotouASiddiqueAMauriFABowerMPinatoDJ. Pd-L1. J Clin Pathol. (2018) 71:189–94. 10.1136/jclinpath-2017-204853
52.
DieterichLCIkenbergKCetintasTKapaklikayaKHutmacherCDetmarM. Tumor-associated lymphatic vessels upregulate PDL1 to inhibit T-cell activation. Front Immunol. (2017) 8:66. 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00066
53.
LaneRSFemelJBreazealeAPLooCPThibaultGKaempfAet al. IFNγ-activated dermal lymphatic vessels inhibit cytotoxic T cells in melanoma and inflamed skin. J Exp Med. (2018) 215:3057–74. 10.1084/jem.20180654
54.
HirosueSVokaliERaghavanVRRincon-RestrepoMLundAWCorthesy-HenrioudPet al. Steady-state antigen scavenging, cross-presentation, and CD8+ T cell priming: a new role for lymphatic endothelial cells. J Immunol. (2014) 192:5002–11. 10.4049/jimmunol.1302492
Summary
Keywords
lymphatic endothelial cell, lymph node expansion, PD-L1, apoptosis, immune tolerance, lymph node contraction, dendritic cell, interferon
Citation
Lucas ED and Tamburini BAJ (2019) Lymph Node Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Expansion and Contraction and the Programming of the Immune Response. Front. Immunol. 10:36. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00036
Received
01 November 2018
Accepted
08 January 2019
Published
25 January 2019
Volume
10 - 2019
Edited by
Anne Fletcher, Monash University, Australia
Reviewed by
Muriel Moser, Free University of Brussels, Belgium; Lianjun Zhang, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine (ISM), China
Updates

Check for updates
Copyright
© 2019 Lucas and Tamburini.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Beth A. J. Tamburini beth.tamburini@ucdenver.edu
This article was submitted to Immunological Tolerance and Regulation, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.