Comparative analysis of mediastinal fat-associated lymphoid cluster development and lung cellular infiltration in @entity19 XXXX and the corresponding normal control strains.

@entity8236 @entity1603 @entity32 @entity19 @entity5168 @entity9271 @entity358 @entity8320 @entity792
UNASSIGNED: We previously discovered mediastinal fat-associated lymphoid clusters (MFALCs) as novel lymphoid clusters (LCs) associated with mediastinal fat tissue (MFT) in healthy @entity19 . However, no data about their morphology in immune-associated disease conditions, and their relationship with @entity358 , is available to date. In the present study, we compared the morphological features of MFALCs in 4-month-old male @entity19 @entity792 (MRL/MpJ-lpr @entity19 and BXSB/MpJ-Yaa @entity19 ) with those of the corresponding control strains (MRL/MpJ and BXSB/MpJ, respectively). In addition, we analyzed their correlation with @entity358 . Furthermore, immunohistochemistry for @entity5168 , @entity8236 , @entity9271 , @entity8320 , and @entity1603 was performed to detect T- and B-cells, macrophages, granulocytes, and proliferating cells, respectively. The spleen/body weight ratios and anti-dsDNA autoantibody titers were found to be significantly higher in the autoimmune models than in the control strains. Furthermore, the autoimmune model presented prominent MFALCs, with a significantly greater ratio of LC area to total MFT area, and more apparent diffused cellular infiltration into the lung lobes than the other studied strains. Higher numbers of T- and B-cells, macrophages, and proliferating cells, but fewer granulocytes, were observed in the autoimmune models than in the control strains. Interestingly, a significant positive Pearson's correlation between the size of the MFALCs and the density of @entity5168 -, @entity8236 -, and @entity9271 -positive cells in the lung was observed. Therefore, our data suggest a potentially important role for MFALCs in the progression of @entity358 . However, further investigation is required to clarify the pathological role of @entity358 , especially in @entity32 . This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
