Marginal zone
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| Marginal zone | |
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| Transverse section of a portion of the spleen. | |
| Gray's | subject #278 1284 |
The marginal zone is the region at the interface between the non-lymphoid red pulp and the lymphoid white-pulp of the spleen. (Some sources consider it to be the part of red pulp which borders on the white pulp, while other sources consider it to be neither red pulp nor white pulp.)
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[edit] Composition and markers
It is composed of cells derived primarily from the myeloid compartment of bone marrow differentiation. At least three distinct cellular markers can be used to identify cells of the marginal zone, MOMA-1, ERTR-9 and MARCO.
[edit] Function
The major role of marginal zone is to trap particulate antigen from the circulation and present the antigen to the lymphocytes of the spleen.
Experiments have shown that inert latex beads as well as live bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes are trapped by the marginal zone. However, only immunogenic substances, ie. bacteria, are trafficked to the T and B cell zones of the white-pulp and are efficiently presented to elicit an immune response.
[edit] Lymphocytes
Marginal zone lymphocytes are a type of B cell ("MZ B cell") created there, capable of binding IgM-antigen complexes. They are notable for their ability to serve several different roles in the immune system.
[edit] Pathology
It is associated with three different kinds of lymphoma:
- Splenic marginal zone lymphoma
- Extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma (MALT lymphoma, or "mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue")
- Nodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma (NMZL)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Annual Review of Immunology
- BioMedCentral
- Marginal zone lymphomas
- JEM
- Kraal G. "Cells in the marginal zone of the spleen.". Int Rev Cytol 132: 31-74. PMID 1555921.
- Kumararatne D, MacLennan I (1981). "Cells of the marginal zone of the spleen are lymphocytes derived from recirculating precursors.". Eur J Immunol 11 (11): 865-9. PMID 6976895.
- Dictionary at eMedicine Marginal+zone
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This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Bone marrow | Thymus (Hassall's corpuscles) | Spleen (White pulp, Periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths, Marginal zone, Red pulp) | Tonsils/Waldeyer's tonsillar ring (Palatine, Lingual, Adenoid)
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue: Gut-associated lymphoid tissue | Peyer's patches
Lymph nodes: Subcapsular sinus | Paracortex | Lymph vessels
Lymph | Lymphocytes | High endothelial venules | Immune system
