needs dendritic cells to its maintenance and function. 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. BALT can be induced even in fetal lungs after chorioamnionitis or intrauterine pneumonia. Also there is an evidence that cigarette smoke can induce formation of BALT in humans and rats. 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. References Immunology Lymphatic tissue