Identification of a new stromal cell type involved in the regulation of inflamed B cell follicles

PLoS Biol. 2013 Oct;11(10):e1001672. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001672. Epub 2013 Oct 1.

Abstract

Lymph node (LN) stromal cells provide survival signals and adhesive substrata to lymphocytes. During an immune response, B cell follicles enlarge, questioning how LN stromal cells manage these cellular demands. Herein, we used a murine fate mapping system to describe a new stromal cell type that resides in the T cell zone of resting LNs. We demonstrated that upon inflammation, B cell follicles progressively trespassed into the adjacent T cell zone and surrounded and converted these stromal cells into CXCL13 secreting cells that in return delineated the new boundaries of the growing follicle. Acute B cell ablation in inflamed LNs abolished CXCL13 secretion in these cells, while LT-β deficiency in B cells drastically affected this conversion. Altogether, we reveal the existence of a dormant stromal cell subset that can be functionally awakened by B cells to delineate the transient boundaries of their expanding territories upon inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Chemokine CXCL13 / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Mice
  • Receptors, CXCR5 / deficiency
  • Receptors, CXCR5 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Complement 3d / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL13
  • Receptors, CXCR5
  • Receptors, Complement 3d