Lymphotoxin beta controls immunity in experimental colitis by regulation of splenic dendritic cell homing

Lymphotoxin (LT) is a TNF family cytokine. Blocking of LTalpha(Α)1beta(Β)2–LTBreceptor (LTΒR) interactions prevents experimental colitis and other experimental autoimmune disease in mice, suggesting a potential treatment principle of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Infection of mice with Citrobacter rodentium (C. r.) serves as an animal model for human infectious colitis induced by enteropathogen E. coli (EPEC). We studied the role of LTΑ1Β2–LTΒR signaling in C. r.–induced colitis. Methods: Mice with disrupted LTΑ1Β2–LTΒR interactions secondary to gene defects (-/-)(LTΑ-/-, LTΒ-/-, LTΒR-/-) or treatment…