number of T and B cells in the blood tagged posts

A microscopic image of a mouse lymph node. Credit: Image courtesy of Kazuhiro Suzuki

Researchers in Japan have discovered that the adrenergic nervous system controls when white blood cells circulate through the body, boosting the immune response by retaining T and B cells in lymph nodes at the time of day when they are most likely to encounter foreign antigens. On their way around the body, T and B cells pass through lymph nodes, where specialized cells may present them with antigens from bacteria or other pathogens. The T and B cells then reenter the bloodstream in search of these pathogens so that they can kill them. Previous studies have suggested that number of T and B cells present in the bloodstream varies over the course of the day.

Kazuhiro Suzuki and colleagues from the WPI Immuno...