Histology of the immune

(lymphoid, lymphatic) system

Jeanne Adiwinata Pawitan

Dept. of Histology
FMUI
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Immune system
Cells of the immune system
Bone marrow (myeloid tissue)
Diffuse lymphoid system
Diffuse lymphoid tissue
Lymph (lymphoid) nodules

Lymphoid organs - capsule

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Immune system defense mechanism

Function: protection >< foreign elements
Foreign macromolecules
Invasive microorganisms
Viruses
Bacteria
Others

Transformed cells

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Defence mechanism (Martini)

Non specific defenses

Physical barriers
Phagocytes (M, neutro, eosinophils, monocytes)
Immunological surveillance: NK cells
Interferons, complement system
Inflammatory responses, fever

Specific defenses specific immunity specific

immune response
Innate (human >< animal disease, except AIDS)
Acquired
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Immune response
Specific recognition system (specific
immune system)
Recognize self >< non self
Component
Cellular (lymphocytes B, T)
Soluble (Ig)

Nonspecific (innate) effector system (non

specific immune system)
Amplifies function specific system
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Nonspecific immune system

Soluble component
Complement proteins (cytokines): lymphokinesmonokines: interleukines (ILs), interferons (IFNs),
tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), transforming growth
factors (TGFs), hematopoietic colony-stimulating
factors (CSFs)

Cellular component phagocytes:

Blood: neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes
Tissue: macrophages (alveolar macrophages,
Kupffers cells, synovial cells joint cavities,
perivascular microglial cells CNS)
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Bone marrow (red) myeloid tissue

Location:
central (marrow, medullary) cavity long bones
Interstices (trabeculae) spongy/cancelous bones

Soft, gelatinous, highly vascular cellular tissue

Function: hemopoiesis 5th month prenatal
LM:
vascular compartment (A., V., sinusoids)
Intervening spaces
hemopoietic compartments meshwork - islands of
hemopoietic cells
Adventitial reticular cells, reticular fibers
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Bone marrow cells

Hemopoietic cells
Blood cells various stages
Macrophages destroyed
Nuclei erythrocytes precursors
Malformed cells
Excess cytoplasm

Adventitial reticular cells

By age 20 adult: cytoplasm - accumulate fat
adipose cells large reduce hemopoietic
compartment
yellow marrow
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Diffuse lymphoid system

Non-encapsulated
Location:
Lymphoid organs
Mucosa (lamina propria) mucosa associated
lymphoid tissue (MALT)
Digestive system (Gut ALT): Peyers patches
Respiratory system (Bronchus ALT)
Urinary system

Occur as
Diffuse lymphoid tissue = localized lymphocyte
infiltration
Lymphoid nodules (lymphonodulus)
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Diffuse lymphoid tissue

Consists of
Stroma
Reticular fibers silver impregnation
Reticular cells of mesenchymal origin some are
phagocytic fixed macrophages

Lymphocytes
Free macrophages
Plasma cells
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Reticular cells
Shape: elongate stellate
Nucleus: ovoid euchromatic
Cytoplasm:
Scanty
Acidophilic
Contains
RER few
Golgi complex moderate-well developed
Fine filaments bundles at periphery
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Lymph (lymphoid, lymphatic) nodule,

lymphonodulus lymphoid follicles
=circumscribed-spherical/ovoid-closely
packed-lymphocytes
In diffuse lymphoid tissue
Location:

Lymph node cortex

Spleen white pulp
Tonsils
Lamina propria (MALT): Peyers patches, etc.
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Gut-associated lymphoid tissue

Isolated lymphoid follicles
Peyers patches aggregates ileum
Lymphoid follicles
B cells
T cells looser surrounding B Cells
Numerous APC surrounding B cells

Simple columnar epithelium M (microfold) cells

capture Ag present their epitopes to lymphocytes
Afferent lymph vessels (-),
Efferent lymph drainage (+)
Received small arterioles capillary bed high
endothelial lined venules (HEVs)
Lymphocytes entering Peyers patches have homing
receptors specific for HEVs of GALT
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Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue

Peyers patches walls bronchus esp.
bronchi-bronchiole bifurcate
Epithelial cover: pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium with goblet cells M cells
Afferent lymph vessels (-)
Efferent lymph drainage (+)
Rich vascular supply HEVs
Possible systemic and localized role in immune
response
Lymphocytes entering BALT have homing receptors
for HEVs of BALT

Cells: mostly B cells, also APC, T cells

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Lymphoid organs

Thymus (primary lymphoid organ)

Lymph nodes (lymphonodus)
Spleen (lien)
Tonsils (tonsila)

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Thymus
Location: superior mediatinum anterior
of great vessels (aorta)
After puberty involution (atrophy)
adult adipose cells
2 lobes
Encapsulated dense-irregularcollagenous connective tissue septa
(trabecula) lobes incomplete lobules
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Lymph node
Location: interposed in the path of lymph
vessels-esp.
Neck, axila, groin
Along major vessel
body cavities

Functions:
Filter remove
Bacteria
Foreign substances
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Lymph node
Small, soft, < 3 cm
Capsule fibrous connective tissue
(thickened at hilum) - trabeculae adipose tissue
Convex: afferent lymph vessels valves
Concave = hilum: A., V., efferent lymph
vessels valves medulla
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Lymph node - sinuses

Sinuses: network stellate reticular cells
macrophages endothelial-like simple
squamous epithelium migratory lymphoid
cells
Course:
Afferent lymphatic vessels
Subcapsular sinus
Cortical (paratrabecular) sinuses
Medullary sinuses
Efferent lymphatic vessels
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Lymph node
Histologically:
Cortex antigen-presenting follicular
dendritic cells
Primary lymphoid nodules (virgin B & memory
B cells)
Secondary nodules (with germinal centers)
antigenic challenge B memory & plasma cell

Paracortex Thymus dependent zone

Medulla
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Lymph node - medulla

Trabeculae from hilum
Medullary cords
Network reticular fiber reticular cells
Cells
Lymphocytes migrating from cortex
medullary sinuses
Plasma cells
Macrophages
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Lymph node - vascularization

Artery (hilum) trabeculae medulla
medullary cords
Capillary beds in medulla
Cortex cortical capillary beds
postcapillary venules (paracortex) vein hilum

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Spleen (lien)

Largest lymphoid organ

Upper left quadrant abdominal cavity
Intraperitoneal visceral peritoneum
Function:

Proliferation B, T cells
Ab formation blood-borne Ag inactivation
Elimination of Ag, bacteria, particles, etc.
Filtering blood destroying old erythrocytes
Hemopoietic (fetal) adult when needed
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Spleen (lien)
Convex surface
Concave surface hilum capsulethickened
Arteries nerve fibers (in)
Veins lymph vessels (out)

Dense irregular connective tissue

capsule - occasional smooth muscle cells
trabeculae into the organ
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Spleen (lien)
Histology
Network reticular fibers reticular cells
attached to capsule trabeculae blood
vessels
Fresh - cut - parenchyma
Grey area = white pulp
(Marginal zone 100 m wide between white
red pulp)
Surrounding red area = red pulp (splenic cords
of Billroth)
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Spleen (lien) blood supply

Splenic artery - hilum branching trabecular
arteries ( 0.2mm) central arteries periarterial
lymphatic sheath (PALS)
Radiating - slender blood vessels red pulp (recur)
-marginal sinuses marginal zone
branching penicillar arteries red pulp:
Pulp arteriole
Sheated arteriole Schweigger-Seidel sheath macrophages)
Terminal arterial capillaries splenic sinuses

Veins of the pulp splenic vein portal vein

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Closed circulation open circ.

Closed circulation
Endothelial lining: terminal arterial
capillaries continuous - sinuses

Open circulation
Terminal arterial capillaries red pulp sinuses

Combination of both
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Spleen (lien) white pulp

Central arteriole
PALS:
T lymphocytes
Frequently: lymphoid nodules (B cells)
germinal center = antigenic challenge
central arteriole - periphery

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Spleen (lien) red pulp

sponge
Spaces = splenic (venous) sinuses (sinusoids)
Endothelial lining fusiform staves of a barrel
Between endothelial cells - spaces - 2-3 m
Surrounded by reticular fibers (continuous with splenic cords)
thin strands longitudinal axis
Have a discontinuous basal lamina

Sponge material = splenic cords of Billroth

Reticular fibers (collagen III) loose network interstices
permeated by extravasated blood
Stellate reticular cells isolate coll III from blood >< platelet
reaction to coll >< coagulation
Macrophages particularly numerous near sinusoids
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Spleen histophysiology
Macrophages
Marginal sinuses macrophage rich
Periphery of splenic sinuses
Phagocytosis
Ag, bacteria, particulate matter, etc
Old erythrocytes
Less fkexible (old, malaria) cannot penetrate spaces
between endothelium
Surface coat: sialic acid residue (-) galactose
moieties exposed induced phagocytosis
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Spleen histophysiology
Lymphocytes -Ag challenge white pulp
B memory cells, plasma cells lymphoid nodules
T cells (various subcategories) PALS

marginal sinuses
Site of Ag challenge
Circulating pool of lymphocytes
Plasma cells
Some stay in marginal zone Ab marginal
sinuses
Most bone marrow Ab bone marrow sinuses
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Tonsils: palatine, pharyngeal, lingual

Incompletely encapsulated
Aggregates of lymphoid nodules
Guard the entrance of oral (oro)
pharynx
Exposed to
Airborne Ag
Ingested Ag

Reaction to Ag
Forming lymphocytes
Mounting immune response
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