A hallmark of the mammalian immune system is its ability to respond efficiently to foreign antigens without eliciting an inappropriate response to self-antigens. Furthermore, a robust immune response requires the coordination of a diverse range of cells present at low frequencies within the host. This problem is solved, in part, by concentrating antigens, antigen-presenting cells and antigen-responsive cells in lymph nodes (LNs). Beyond housing these cell types in one location, LNs are highly organized structures consisting of pre-positioned cells within well-defined microanatomical niches. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we outline the key cellular populations and components of the LN microenvironment that are present at steady state and chronicle the dynamic changes in these elements following an immune response. This review highlights the LN as a staging ground for both innate and adaptive immune responses, while providing an elegant example of how structure informs function.

中文翻译：

---

淋巴结一览无遗-空间组织如何优化免疫反应。

哺乳动物免疫系统的标志是其对外来抗原有效反应而不引起对自身抗原的不适当反应的能力。此外，强大的免疫反应需要协调宿主内低频存在的多种细胞。通过在淋巴结（LNs）中浓缩抗原，抗原呈递细胞和抗原反应性细胞来部分解决此问题。除了将这些细胞类型容纳在一个位置之外，LN是高度组织化的结构，由在明确定义的微解剖壁ni中的预定位细胞组成。在此《细胞科学概览》文章和随附的海报中，我们概述了处于稳定状态的LN微环境的关键细胞群和组成部分，并记录了免疫反应后这些元素的动态变化。