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In addition to leukocytes, secondary lymphoid organs are populated by non-hematopoietic stromal cells. This diverse group of cells supports lymphocyte migration and homing, facilitates antigen delivery, and promotes T cell survival. However, there is relatively little known about the specific molecules governing the roles that these cells play in regulating dendritic cell (DC) motility and lymph node architecture. Here, we examine the interaction between two molecules, CLEC-2 and podoplanin (PDPN), that are critical for DC migration and maintaining structural integrity of lymph nodes. Together, these studies identify novel functions of lymph node stromal cells and a unique function for PDPN in the immune system. In response detecting an potentially harmful antigen, DCs in peripheral tissues mature and travel to downstream lymph nodes by following chemokine gradients secreted by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) present in the lymph node paracortex. We discovered that, in addition to chemokines, DC migration requires CLEC-2 on DCs, as engagement of CLEC-2 with PDPN, which is expressed by LECs and FRCs, incites DC motility and is required for DC entry into the lymphatics, efficient arrival in the lymph node, and migration along the FRC network within the lymph node. Next, we examined the effect of this interaction with respect to the stromal cell. Through a combination approaches, we discovered that PDPN is a master regulator of contractility in FRCs. The fact that FRCs are contractile cells was previously reported, but our study is the first to identify a function for this contractility: upon blockade of PDPN-mediated contractility, lymph nodes became enlarged, the FRC network became more sparse, and there were increased numbers of lymphocytes in the lymph node. Importantly, during an immune response, these changes resulted in more proliferation of antigen-specific T cells and impaired contraction of the lymph node upon resolution of inflammation. Finally, we found that CLEC-2 binding PDPN recapitulated the effect of PDPN deletion. Thus, during an immune response, CLEC-2+ DCs would use PDPN to efficiently migrate to the lymph node and simultaneously cause FRCs to relax and prepare the lymph node for expansion.

Lymph nodes (LNs) are dynamic organs responsible for providing a supportive and centralized environment for the generation of immune response. Utilizing a highly organized network of non-hematopoietic stromal cells, the LN serves as the context in which the immune system collects and presents antigen, promotes innate and adaptive immune interaction, and generates protective cell-mediated and humoral immunity. In this way, proper organization and function of the LN environment is a critical component of effective immunity, and understanding its complexity has direct impact on the ability to generate and modulate primary immune response to specific antigens. To this end, the LN architecture, underlying stromal networks, and environmental and cellular responses to influenza vaccination were investigated. Using novel approaches to conduit imaging, details of the collagen network that comprises the LN scaffolding have been integrated into current understandings of LN architecture. The cellular compartment responsible for the maintenance of that scaffolding, fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), have been studied using an induced diptheria toxin receptor model. By specifically ablating the FRC population in mice, their role in the maintenance of T cell homeostasis has been confirmed in vivo. More surprisingly, a disruption of the FRC network resulted in a loss of B cell follicle structure within LNs, and a reduction in humoral immunity to influenza vaccination. These findings led to the identification of a new subset of FRCs which reside in B cell follicles, and serve as a critical source of the B cell survival factor BAFF. Turning towards the hematopoietic response to influenza vaccination, a highly unexpected lymph node resident dendritic cell (LNDC) response has been identified following vaccine antigen deposition within specialized sites in the LN medulla. Rapid migration of LNDCs into these sites optimizes exposure of the population to viral antigen, and de novo synthesis of a CXCL10 chemokine gradient by activated LNDCs ensures efficient antigen specific \(CD4^+\) T cell response, and protective humoral immunity - independent of migratory dendritic cell status. Altogether, these studies highlight a highly dynamic, responsive LN environment with direct influence on primary immune response - the understanding of which has broad implications in vaccine biology.

Non-hematopoietic stromal cells (SCs) promote and regulate adaptive immunity through numerous direct and indirect mechanisms. SCs construct and support the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) in which lymphocytes crawl on stromal networks and inspect antigen-presenting cells for surface-display of cognate antigens. SCs also secrete survival factors and chemotactic cues that recruit, organize, and facilitate interactions among these leukocytes. They influence antigen access by secreting and ensheathing extracellular matrix-based conduit networks that rapidly convey small, soluble lymph-borne molecules to the SLO core. Furthermore, lymph node stromal cells (LNSCs) directly induce \(CD8^+\) T cell tolerance to peripheral tissue restricted antigens and constrain the proliferation of newly activated T cells in these sites. Thus, stromal-hematopoietic interactions are crucial for the normal functioning of the immune system. LNSCs are extremely rare and difficult to isolate, hampering the thorough study of their biology. In order to better understand these stromal subsets, we sorted fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), lymphatic endothelial cells, blood endothelial cells, and podoplanin \(^−CD31^−\) cells (double negative stromal cells; DNCs) to high purity from resting and inflamed murine lymph nodes. We meticulously analyzed the transcriptional profiles of these freshly isolated LNSCs as part of the Immunological Genome Project Consortium. Analysis of the transcriptional profiles of these LNSC subsets indicated that SCs express key immune mediators and growth factors, and provided important insights into the lymph node conduit network, FRC-specialization, and the DNC identity. Examination of hematopoietic and stromal transcription of ligands and cognate receptors suggested complex crosstalk among these populations. Interestingly, FRCs dominated cytokine and chemokine transcription among LNSCs, and were also enriched for higher expression of these genes when compared with skin and thymic fibroblasts, consistent with FRC-specialization. LNSCs that were isolated from inflamed lymph nodes robustly upregulated expression of genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, antigen-processing and presentation machinery, and acute-phase response molecules. Little-explored DNCs showed many transcriptional similarities to FRCs, but importantly did not transcribe interleukin-7. We identified DNCs as consisting largely of myofibroblastic pericytes that express integrin \(\alpha 7\). Together these data comprehensively describe the transcriptional characteristics of four major LNSC subsets isolated from resting and inflamed SLOs, offering many avenues for future study.

Células reticulares fibroblásticas (FRCs, gp38+ e CD31-) e células duplo negativas (DNCs, gp38- e CD31-) são células estromais encontradas em órgãos linfoides secundários, como linfonodos. Enquanto as FRCs têm sido amplamente estudadas, pouco se sabe ainda sobre DNCs. Apesar da função estrutural das FRCs nos linfonodos já estar bem estabelecida, estudos recentes indicam que as FRCs também desempenham um papel fundamental em processos imunológicos, por exemplo, migração celular, ativação e qualidade da resposta imune, além da participação na tolerância periférica. Outra célula estromal em constante estudo são as células-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs), principalmente encontradas na medula óssea. Estas células compartilham similaridades, como por exemplo; são células estromais encontradas em órgãos linfoides, apresentam morfologia e características semelhantes quando cultivadas in vitro e estão envolvidas na resposta imune por mecanismos semelhantes. As CTMs são provenientes de um órgão linfoide primário, cuja função principal não está relacionada à resposta imunológica, entretanto, de acordo com inúmeros trabalhos, estas células possuem capacidade de interferir na ativação de várias células do sistema imunológico. Portanto, nossa hipótese é de que as FRCs e DNCs, que se encontram em um órgão linfoide secundário, cuja função principal remete a resposta imunológica, apresentem também um papel regulador, descrito na literatura como tolerância periférica e contração de uma resposta imunológica já estabelecida. Em nosso estudo mostramos que FRCs e DNCs foram isoladas a partir de linfonodos humanos e devidamente caraterizadas. Evidenciamos que FRCs e DNCs atendem todos os critérios mínimos propostos pela sociedade internacional de terapia celular para serem consideradas células-tronco estromais. Além disso, mostramos que FRCs e DNCs influênciam a proliferação e a expressão de moléculas de homing em linfócitos alogênicos in vitro. Portanto, contribuimos de forma inédita para o entendimento funcional das FRCs e DNCs, visto que estudos em humanos envolvendo estas células são escassos / Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs, gp38+ e CD31-) and double-negative cells (DNCs, gp38- e CD31-) are stromal cells found in secondary lymphoid organs, such as lymph nodes. While the FRCs has been widely studied, little is known about DNCs. Despite the structural function of FRCs on lymph nodes is well established, recent studies indicate that FRCs also play a key role in immunological processes, for example, cell migration, immune response activation and quality, beyond their involvement in peripheral tolerance. Another stromal cell type in constant study are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), mainly found in bone marrow. These cells share similarities with FRCs and DNCs, for example; they are estromal cells found in lymphoid organs, they present similar morphology and characteristics when cultured in vitro and they are involved in the immune response by similar mechanisms. MSCs are derived from a primary lymphoid organ which the major function is not related to immune response, but according to numerous studies these cells have the capacity of the interfere on activation of various immune cells. Consequently, our hypothesis is that FRCs and DNCs, usually found in secondary lymphoid organ, display immune regulatory roles, which were described in the literature as peripheral tolerance and immune response contraction. In our study we showed that FRCs and DNCs were isolated from human lymph nodes and adequately characterized. We evidenced that FRCs and DNCs meet all minimum criteria proposed by the International Society of Cell Therapy to be considerate a stromal stem cell. Therefore, we contributed in an unpublished manner to the functional understanding of FRCs and DNCs, since human studies involving these cells are scarce

Células reticulares fibroblásticas (FRCs, gp38+ e CD31-) e células duplo negativas (DNCs, gp38- e CD31-) são células estromais encontradas em órgãos linfoides secundários, como linfonodos. Enquanto as FRCs têm sido amplamente estudadas, pouco se sabe ainda sobre DNCs. Apesar da função estrutural das FRCs nos linfonodos já estar bem estabelecida, estudos recentes indicam que as FRCs também desempenham um papel fundamental em processos imunológicos, por exemplo, migração celular, ativação e qualidade da resposta imune, além da participação na tolerância periférica. Outra célula estromal em constante estudo são as células-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs), principalmente encontradas na medula óssea. Estas células compartilham similaridades, como por exemplo; são células estromais encontradas em órgãos linfoides, apresentam morfologia e características semelhantes quando cultivadas in vitro e estão envolvidas na resposta imune por mecanismos semelhantes. As CTMs são provenientes de um órgão linfoide primário, cuja função principal não está relacionada à resposta imunológica, entretanto, de acordo com inúmeros trabalhos, estas células possuem capacidade de interferir na ativação de várias células do sistema imunológico. Portanto, nossa hipótese é de que as FRCs e DNCs, que se encontram em um órgão linfoide secundário, cuja função principal remete a resposta imunológica, apresentem também um papel regulador, descrito na literatura como tolerância periférica e contração de uma resposta imunológica já estabelecida. Em nosso estudo mostramos que FRCs e DNCs foram isoladas a partir de linfonodos humanos e devidamente caraterizadas. Evidenciamos que FRCs e DNCs atendem todos os critérios mínimos propostos pela sociedade internacional de terapia celular para serem consideradas células-tronco estromais. Além disso, mostramos que FRCs e DNCs influênciam a proliferação e a expressão de moléculas de homing em linfócitos alogênicos in vitro. Portanto, contribuimos de forma inédita para o entendimento funcional das FRCs e DNCs, visto que estudos em humanos envolvendo estas células são escassos / Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs, gp38+ e CD31-) and double-negative cells (DNCs, gp38- e CD31-) are stromal cells found in secondary lymphoid organs, such as lymph nodes. While the FRCs has been widely studied, little is known about DNCs. Despite the structural function of FRCs on lymph nodes is well established, recent studies indicate that FRCs also play a key role in immunological processes, for example, cell migration, immune response activation and quality, beyond their involvement in peripheral tolerance. Another stromal cell type in constant study are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), mainly found in bone marrow. These cells share similarities with FRCs and DNCs, for example; they are estromal cells found in lymphoid organs, they present similar morphology and characteristics when cultured in vitro and they are involved in the immune response by similar mechanisms. MSCs are derived from a primary lymphoid organ which the major function is not related to immune response, but according to numerous studies these cells have the capacity of the interfere on activation of various immune cells. Consequently, our hypothesis is that FRCs and DNCs, usually found in secondary lymphoid organ, display immune regulatory roles, which were described in the literature as peripheral tolerance and immune response contraction. In our study we showed that FRCs and DNCs were isolated from human lymph nodes and adequately characterized. We evidenced that FRCs and DNCs meet all minimum criteria proposed by the International Society of Cell Therapy to be considerate a stromal stem cell. Therefore, we contributed in an unpublished manner to the functional understanding of FRCs and DNCs, since human studies involving these cells are scarce