Isolation and long-term cultivation of human tonsil follicular dendritic cells.

Highly purified follicular dendritic cells (FDC) were isolated from human tonsils and cultivated for up to 150 days. The cell separation method employed produced pure aggregates (FDC-clusters) composed of FDC and germinal center lymphoid cells, useful for the analysis of the relationship between these two cell types and of the behavior of FDC in culture. During the first few days of culture, lymphoid cells located between FDC extensions survived better than those which were free or partly covered by FDC. After 6 days, the lymphoid population degenerated and only the FDC survived. The unique antigenic pattern of FDC (positive for HLA-DR. DRC-1, CD14b, CD21, CD23, CD35) disappeared within a few days of culture. Recombinant interferon-gamma exerted a positive effect either on retaining HLA-DR expression or on the reexpression of these antigens by FDC. HLA-ABC antigens were traced until the 10th day and desmosomal junctions until the 14th day. Subsequently, FDC presented peculiar features, including oval and rhomboid shapes, one to ten nuclei, fine amoeboid extensions, stress fibers and a radical dense zone in their cytoplasm. FDC possessed actin, tubulin and vimentin, but neither desmin nor cytokeratin. After 40 days of culture, FDC enlarged and were covered with abundant membrane extensions. Even when kept as long as 150 days in vitro. FDC did not proliferate in any of the culture conditions employed.

Localization of interleukin 6 mRNA in human tonsils by in situ hybridization.

We have investigated which areas produce interleukin 6 (IL 6) in human tonsils. This growth factor is required for the terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into plasmocytes. Using 35S-labeled IL 6 cDNA we demonstrated IL 6 gene expression over various areas of the tonsils, with consistent exception of the follicles, by in situ hybridization. It is, therefore, proposed that B cells are stimulated during their migration out of the follicles.

Cytokines produced in lymph follicles.

The events occurring inside lymph follicles during a germinal center reaction are poorly understood. Using B and T lymphoid cell populations prepared from human tonsillar lymph follicles, and enriched or not in macrophages or in follicular dendritic cells, we examined the production of cytokines by these cells in vitro. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were found in the supernatants of cultures stimulated with phytohemagglutinin or pokeweed mitogen. IL-1 beta was occasionally detected; its secretion apparently depends on the origin of the tonsils, the stimulation, and the cell populations. IFN-gamma and IL-2 were not produced in significant amounts by these lymph follicle cells. IL-4 was only found in very low concentrations in the supernatant of the different cell cultures. The cell populations containing follicular dendritic cells produced more IL-6 and TNF than the others, especially than those composed of only B and T cells.

Intercellular contacts between germinal center cells. Mechanisms of adhesion between lymphoid cells and follicular dendritic cells.

Intercellular connections exist between germinal center cells especially between lymphoid cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDC). Even after isolation, FDC remain associated to lymphocytes and are able, in a cell suspension, to establish new connections with others. Using human tonsillar cells or mouse lymph node cells we analysed these connections which were shown to be species-specific. Low temperature as well as absence of Ca++ and Mg++ in the culture medium reduced the adherence of fluorochrome-labeled lymphoid cells to FDC. Colchicine treatment did not impair the adherence, whereas cytochalasin B dit it; this was the first observation underlining the importance of microfibrils in FDC. Antibodies directed towards integrin molecules (LFA-1 alpha or beta chain, CD11a and CD18 respectively) reduced the adherence, others (anti-CR3 or anti-gp 150/95, CD11b and c respectively) did not influence it. Antibodies directed against MHC class II exerted no inhibitory action on the lymphoid cell adhesion to FDC. As, at ultrastructural level, gold-labeled immune complexes can be found between FDC and lymphoid cells, we examined the effect on cell adhesion of the addition of immune complexes to the cell suspensions. It only impaired the lymphoid cell adhesion when complement components were present. IgM complexes were then more inhibitory than IgG complexes. When antibodies against Fc IgG receptors (CD16) were added, the adhesion was strongly reduced whereas antibodies to Fc IgE (CD23) receptors had no influence. The antibody DRC1, specifically recognizing an antigen on human FDC reduced the attachment of cells to FDC. This antigen thus seems to play a role in the intercellular contacts; this is the first function ascribed to this FDC specific antigen.

Influence of immunoglobulin isotypes and lymphoid cell phenotype on the transfer of immune complexes to follicular dendritic cells.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are located only inside lymph follicles and are characterized mainly by their capacity to retain high amounts of immune complexes by their Fc or C3b receptors. In this work, we examine the influence of immunoglobulin isotypes and the subset of lymphoid cells (B or T) upon the transfer of immune complexes from lymphocytes to FDC. FDC isolated from mice lymph nodes by enzymatic digestion are able to fix, through Fc receptors, gold-labeled immune complexes presented by lymphoid cells. As demonstrated by electron microscopy, this transfer requires the establishment of close contacts between both cell types. Using different cell selection techniques we show that B lymphoid cells take up immune complexes more efficiently than do T lymphoid cells and transfer a larger number of them to FDC. This transfer mechanism is dependent on the immunoglobulin isotype: immune complexes constituted of IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG1 isotypes are better transferred to FDC than those constituted of IgG3 and IgM.

Lipopolysaccharide suppresses immune complex retention by follicular dendritic cells without cytological alterations.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are peculiar cells only located inside lymph follicles and which may be characterized by complex dendritic evaginations retaining high quantities of immune complexes by Fc and C3b receptors. After lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in mice the retention of gold-labelled immune complexes was abolished in draining lymph nodes. In order to examine the possibility that the transport of immune complexes to lymph follicles was impaired, we isolated FDC from lymph nodes and incubated them in presence of gold-labelled complexes: no or strongly reduced retention was then observed at the ultrastructural level. This LPS-induced impairment of immune complex fixation by FDC is not due to morphological alteration to the cells but to the inhibition of their Fc and C3b receptors. Further, LPS induces changes in the composition of the lymphocyte population in lymph follicles as higher numbers of blast cells and plasmocytes are observed after treatment.

Isolation of follicular dendritic cells from human tonsils and adenoids. V. Effect on lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are located only in lymph follicles and are characterized by their capacity to retain high amounts of immune complexes on their plasma membranes. As their functions in germinal centres are unknown, we isolated them from human tonsils and cultured them with autologous lymphoid cells. Cultures of lymphoid cells alone or with added macrophages were used as controls. Lymphoid cells incorporated tritiated thymidine only when FDC and lectins were added; this could be shown after several periods of time. However, the Ig secretion by lymphoid cell populations was inhibited by FDC after several days in vitro. In contrast, the supernatants of lymphocytes cultured alone or with macrophages only for the same periods of time contained increasing amounts of immunoglobulins. This inhibitory effect of FDC on immunoglobulin production was observed for all considered isotypes. Our data suggest that FDC stimulate lymphoid cell proliferation but reduce B-cell differentiation. This is the first accessory cell activity definitely shown for FDC in cultures.

Isolation of follicular dendritic cells from human tonsils and adenoids. VI. Analysis of prostaglandin secretion.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are able to fix high amounts of immune complexes by C3b or Fc receptors without endocytosis and for long periods of time. In order to determine the function of this retention, we analysed the secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by FDC in vitro; indeed, it is well-known that immune complex fixation on cells may induce PGE2 production. FDC were isolated by enzymic digestion of lymph follicles dissected under the biomicroscope from human tonsils or adenoids. Isolated FDC appeared as spherical clusters where they enveloped lymphoid cells with their cytoplasmic extensions. Tests were performed in synthetic culture media or in media supplemented with foetal calf serum. PGE2 production in FDC suspensions was compared to that of lymphocyte or macrophage-enriched populations prepared from the same human tonsils. In all experimental conditions, FDC and macrophage-enriched cell populations produced high levels of PGE2, inversely to lymphoid cell populations. This secretion was inhibited by indomethacin. At the ultrastructural level, we also showed that 3H-arachidonic acid was metabolized in cell membranes of all three cell types. The PGE2 produced in the culture media, according to our experimental conditions, do not influence cell proliferation, as assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation tests on phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes.

Retention of immune complexes by murine lymph node or spleen follicular dendritic cells. Role of antibody isotype.

Using monoclonal anti-trinitrophenyl (TNP) antibodies complexed to TNP-myoglobin-coated gold particles, we analysed at the ultrastructural level the retention by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) of immune complexes containing various antibody isotypes. Gold-labelled immune complexes were injected subcutaneously or intravenously into naive mice and, after 24 h, germinal centres of draining lymph nodes or spleen were examined by electron microscopy. FDC generally retained complexes containing IgG2a and IgG2b better than those formed with IgG1 or IgG3. IgM was rarely retained. FDC isolated from lymph nodes or spleens were incubated in vitro with gold-labelled complexes in a serum-free medium. IgG2a and IgG2b complexes were also retained in vitro in large quantities by FDC; IgG1 and IgG3 complexes were retained in smaller quantities or in highly variable quantities compared with IgG2; IgM complexes were rarely seen on FDC. There was no difference between FDC isolated from lymph nodes or from spleen with respect to the Ig isotypes required for Fc-mediated retention of immune complexes.

Transfer of immune complexes from lymphocytes to follicular dendritic cells.

Antigens in the form of immune complexes are retained on the membranes of follicular dendritic cells (FDC) for long periods of time. To examine how immune complexes reach germinal centers, where FDC are located, we injected mice with anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) antibodies complexed to DNP-myoglobin-coated gold particles. The distribution of the particles in spleens or draining lymph nodes was then determined with the electron microscope. The vast majority of the particles were cell bound. Shortly after injection they were phagocytized by macrophages or fixed on lymphocytes. The latter were found even in the corona of lymph follicles but not in germinal centers. Already 30 min after injection, FDC in contact with the corona were faintly positive but were negative in the center. FDC precursor cells were occasionally observed but in too small a number to account for the transport of immune complexes to the germinal centers. Twenty-four hours after injection colloidal gold particles were found in phagolysosomes of macrophages or on cytoplasmic extensions of FDC in all parts of the germinal centers. Experiments performed on isolated FDC showed that they are not only able to take up free immune complexes but are also able to adsorb immune complexes from pulsed lymphocytes. These results strengthen the idea that lymphoid cells binding immune complexes by their Fc receptors may transport these complexes inside germinal centers.

[Influence of follicular dendritic cells on the survival of lymphocytes in vitro]. / Influence de la cellule folliculaire dendritique sur la survie des lymphocytes in vitro.

To study the role of follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in germinal centers, we tried to keep them alive in vitro by culturing entire lymphoid follicles. Ultrastructural studies of those cultures in different conditions of culture technique, medium and temperature have been made. In any considered conditions living FDC were not found in the cultures after the 7th day. But during that period, only lymphocytes in close contact with the cytoplasmic processes of FDC survived. FDC seem thus to exert a positive action on lymphocyte survival in vitro. Moreover, FDC and lymphocytes appeared associated in situ in clusters similar to those obtained after isolation of FDC (Lilet-Leclercq et al., J. Immunol. Meth., 1984, 59, 235).

Isolation of follicular dendritic cells from human tonsils and adenoids. III. Analysis of their Fc receptors.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC), isolated from human tonsils or adenoids, were tested for their capacity to retain monomeric, aggregated or antigen-bound human antibodies in the absence of serum. FDC retain fluorescein-labelled heat-aggregated human immunoglobulins, but not monomeric ones nor fluorescein-labelled F(ab')2 in monomeric or aggregated form. Ultrastructural observations showed that colloidal gold-labelled monomeric, or antigen-bound, antibodies directed against tetanus toxoid are retained by dendrites and membrane infoldings of FDC but are never located in cytoplasmic vesicles. This retention was inhibited by incubating FDC with unlabelled aggregated or antigen-bound antibodies. When gold-labelled anti-tetanus toxoid antibodies were incubated in the presence of protein-A before the contact with FDC, a strong reduction of their retention occurred. This further suggested the presence of Fc receptors on isolated tonsillar FDC. Endocytosis was not observed in isolated FDC, even after prolonged incubation in presence of labelled immune complexes: their Fc receptors are, thus, not related to a phagocytic activity as they are in macrophages. Simultaneous ultrastructural labelling of Fc and C3b receptors with colloidal gold particles of different sizes did not reveal any clear relations between these two receptors on the surface of FDC.

Retention of immune complexes by Fc receptors on mouse follicular dendritic cells.

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are located inside lymph follicles and are mainly characterized by their capacity to retain antigens. We investigated this aspect in mice lymph nodes by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) labelled with 5-nm colloidal gold particles and homologous anti-BSA antibodies bound to 20-nm gold particles. Gold-labelled BSA injected alone in non-immunized mice was only rarely found in FDC cytoplasmic interdigitations. Injected in the form of immune complexes, it was retained by FDC. Antigen-free anti-BSA antibodies injected under similar conditions as immune complexes were always found in draining lymph nodes in the same locations as BSA-anti-BSA immune complexes. F(ab')2 from mouse immunoglobulins linked to colloidal gold particles were very rarely found between the FDC extensions, whereas it was intensely phagocytosed by macrophages. Our study permitted precise ultrastructural localization between FDC cytoplasmic extensions or inside macrophages and other cells of the lymph nodes, but it also pointed out that homologous antibodies linked to colloidal gold particles might be retained by FDC in the absence of antigens. These observations, carried out with colloidal gold, were checked by using 125I-labelled anti-BSA antibodies. Complement activation determinations of gold-labelled antibodies or immune complexes showed that antibodies or immune complexes fixed on colloidal gold particles do not activate the complement. This observation enabled us to conclude that Fc receptors play a significant part in the retention of gold-labelled antibodies or immune complexes by FDC of lymph nodes.