Protocol for precision cutting and short-term culture of lymph node tissue slices for modeling of innate immune responses ex vivo (2026, STAR Protocols)

Lymph nodes have a very organized structure that helps the body start immune responses. This protocol shows how to keep that structure intact while studying the tissue outside the body for a short time. It explains how to cut living human lymph nodes into thin slices, keep them alive in culture for up to 20 hours, expose them to immune-activating signals, and then measure how the tissue responds.