[PDF][PDF] Maturation of lymph node fibroblastic reticular cells from myofibroblastic precursors is critical for antiviral immunity

Q Chai, L Onder, E Scandella, C Gil-Cruz… - Immunity, 2013 - cell.com
Q Chai, L Onder, E Scandella, C Gil-Cruz, C Perez-Shibayama, J Cupovic, R Danuser…
Immunity, 2013cell.com
The stromal scaffold of the lymph node (LN) paracortex is built by fibroblastic reticular cells
(FRCs). Conditional ablation of lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) expression in LN FRCs and
their mesenchymal progenitors in developing LNs revealed that LTβR-signaling in these
cells was not essential for the formation of LNs. Although T cell zone reticular cells had lost
podoplanin expression, they still formed a functional conduit system and showed enhanced
expression of myofibroblastic markers. However, essential immune functions of FRCs …
Summary
The stromal scaffold of the lymph node (LN) paracortex is built by fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). Conditional ablation of lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) expression in LN FRCs and their mesenchymal progenitors in developing LNs revealed that LTβR-signaling in these cells was not essential for the formation of LNs. Although T cell zone reticular cells had lost podoplanin expression, they still formed a functional conduit system and showed enhanced expression of myofibroblastic markers. However, essential immune functions of FRCs, including homeostatic chemokine and interleukin-7 expression, were impaired. These changes in T cell zone reticular cell function were associated with increased susceptibility to viral infection. Thus, myofibroblasic FRC precursors are able to generate the basic T cell zone infrastructure, whereas LTβR-dependent maturation of FRCs guarantees full immunocompetence and hence optimal LN function during infection.
cell.com