Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue

Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) is a tertiary lymphoid structure. It is a part of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and it consists of lymphoid follicles in the lungs and bronchus. BALT is an effective priming site of the mucosal and systemic immune responses.^[1]

Structure

BALT is similar in most mammal species, but it differs in its maintenance and inducibility. While it is normal component of lungs and bronchus in rabbits or pigs, in mice or humans it appears only after infection or inflammation.^[2] In mice and humans it is thus called inducible BALT (iBALT). BALT and iBALT are structurally and functionally very similar, so in this article only BALT is used for both structures.^{[citation needed]}

BALT is found along the bifurcations of the upper bronchi directly beneath the

For formation of BALT in mice is necessary inteleukin-17 and VCAM-1, PNAd and LFA-1 and it is lymphotoxin-α independent whereas the development of secondary lymphoid organs (such as lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches) is typically dependent on LTα.^[4][5][6] Formation of BALT may be caused by disabled in situ function of Treg cells.^[7]

Function

Function and purpose of BALT is not completely known yet. It is also unclear if its formation is part of normal immune response or if it is pathologic and should be suppressed.

BALT is included in the efficient priming of adaptive B-cell and T-cell responses directed against airborne antigens. It needs dendritic cells to its maintenance and function.^[8] Inducible BALT is formed after infection, e.g. influenza, and peak in size between 1 and 2 weeks after infection and diminish thereafter. Immune responses initiated in iBALT are delayed relative to the immune response in the draining lymph nodes, owing to the time it takes to form iBALT. However, in chronic disease iBALT may be a component of the pathology.^[4] BALT can be induced even in fetal lungs after chorioamnionitis or intrauterine pneumonia.^[2] Also there is an evidence that cigarette smoke can induce formation of BALT in humans and rats.^[9] BALT can also occur after other stimuli, e.g. inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune lung disease or mechanic damage by dust particles.^[3]

References