Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant

Summary: Immunological processes that underpin human immune responses to therapeutics and vaccine components, such as vaccine adjuvants, remain poorly defined due to a paucity of models that faithfully recapitulate immune activation in lymphoid tissues. We describe precision-cut human lymph node (LN...

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Main Authors: Joannah R. Fergusson, Jacqueline H.Y. Siu, Nitya Gupta, Edward Jenkins, Eloise Nee, Sören Reinke, Tamara Ströbel, Ananya Bhalla, Shyami M. Kandage, Thomas Courant, Sarah Hill, Moustafa Attar, Michael L. Dustin, Alex Gordon-Weeks, Mark Coles, Calliope A. Dendrou, Anita Milicic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Cell Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725007090
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author Joannah R. Fergusson
Jacqueline H.Y. Siu
Nitya Gupta
Edward Jenkins
Eloise Nee
Sören Reinke
Tamara Ströbel
Ananya Bhalla
Shyami M. Kandage
Thomas Courant
Sarah Hill
Moustafa Attar
Michael L. Dustin
Alex Gordon-Weeks
Mark Coles
Calliope A. Dendrou
Anita Milicic
author_facet Joannah R. Fergusson
Jacqueline H.Y. Siu
Nitya Gupta
Edward Jenkins
Eloise Nee
Sören Reinke
Tamara Ströbel
Ananya Bhalla
Shyami M. Kandage
Thomas Courant
Sarah Hill
Moustafa Attar
Michael L. Dustin
Alex Gordon-Weeks
Mark Coles
Calliope A. Dendrou
Anita Milicic
author_sort Joannah R. Fergusson
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Immunological processes that underpin human immune responses to therapeutics and vaccine components, such as vaccine adjuvants, remain poorly defined due to a paucity of models that faithfully recapitulate immune activation in lymphoid tissues. We describe precision-cut human lymph node (LN) slices as a functioning, architecturally preserved, full-organ cross-sectional model system. Using single-cell transcriptomics and multiplexed imaging, we explore early inflammatory response to a potent, clinically relevant liposomal vaccine adjuvant containing a TLR4-agonist and QS-21 saponin. Both TLR4 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are involved in the direct initiation of the inflammatory response to adjuvant by monocytes and macrophages (Mon./Mac.) with secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, but not IL-18, dependent on TLR4 signaling. Innate lymphoid cells, including natural killer cells, are indirectly activated by Mon./Mac.-produced cytokines, signaling downstream to B cells via interferon-γ secretion. Resident LN stromal populations, primed both directly and indirectly by vaccine adjuvant, are instrumental in mediating inflammatory cell recruitment, particularly neutrophils.
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publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-5995ff0b32b84b17a595a34702575abe2025-08-20T03:16:08ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472025-07-0144711593810.1016/j.celrep.2025.115938Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvantJoannah R. Fergusson0Jacqueline H.Y. Siu1Nitya Gupta2Edward Jenkins3Eloise Nee4Sören Reinke5Tamara Ströbel6Ananya Bhalla7Shyami M. Kandage8Thomas Courant9Sarah Hill10Moustafa Attar11Michael L. Dustin12Alex Gordon-Weeks13Mark Coles14Calliope A. Dendrou15Anita Milicic16Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKJenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKVaccine Formulation Institute, Rue du Champ-Blanchod 4, 1228 Plan-Les-Ouates, SwitzerlandKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UKNuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UKKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK; Corresponding authorKennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK; Corresponding authorJenner Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; Corresponding authorSummary: Immunological processes that underpin human immune responses to therapeutics and vaccine components, such as vaccine adjuvants, remain poorly defined due to a paucity of models that faithfully recapitulate immune activation in lymphoid tissues. We describe precision-cut human lymph node (LN) slices as a functioning, architecturally preserved, full-organ cross-sectional model system. Using single-cell transcriptomics and multiplexed imaging, we explore early inflammatory response to a potent, clinically relevant liposomal vaccine adjuvant containing a TLR4-agonist and QS-21 saponin. Both TLR4 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are involved in the direct initiation of the inflammatory response to adjuvant by monocytes and macrophages (Mon./Mac.) with secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, but not IL-18, dependent on TLR4 signaling. Innate lymphoid cells, including natural killer cells, are indirectly activated by Mon./Mac.-produced cytokines, signaling downstream to B cells via interferon-γ secretion. Resident LN stromal populations, primed both directly and indirectly by vaccine adjuvant, are instrumental in mediating inflammatory cell recruitment, particularly neutrophils.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725007090CP: Immunology
spellingShingle Joannah R. Fergusson
Jacqueline H.Y. Siu
Nitya Gupta
Edward Jenkins
Eloise Nee
Sören Reinke
Tamara Ströbel
Ananya Bhalla
Shyami M. Kandage
Thomas Courant
Sarah Hill
Moustafa Attar
Michael L. Dustin
Alex Gordon-Weeks
Mark Coles
Calliope A. Dendrou
Anita Milicic
Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
Cell Reports
CP: Immunology
title Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
title_full Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
title_fullStr Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
title_full_unstemmed Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
title_short Ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
title_sort ex vivo model of functioning human lymph node reveals role for innate lymphocytes and stroma in response to vaccine adjuvant
topic CP: Immunology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124725007090
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