Publikation

B cell homeostasis and follicle confines are governed by fibroblastic reticular cells

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 24.08.2014

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Cremasco V, Carroll M, Ludewig B, Wucherpfennig K, Harvey C, Cremasco F, Chang J, Schildberg F, Nieves-Bonilla J, Cupovic J, Onder L, Woodruff M, Turley S. B cell homeostasis and follicle confines are governed by fibroblastic reticular cells. Nat Immunol 2014; 15:973-81.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
Nat Immunol 2014; 15
Veröffentlichungsdatum
24.08.2014
eISSN (Online)
1529-2916
Seiten
973-81
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are known to inhabit T cell-rich areas of lymphoid organs, where they function to facilitate interactions between T cells and dendritic cells. However, in vivo manipulation of FRCs has been limited by a dearth of genetic tools that target this lineage. Here, using a mouse model to conditionally ablate FRCs, we demonstrated their indispensable role in antiviral T cell responses. Unexpectedly, loss of FRCs also attenuated humoral immunity due to impaired B cell viability and follicular organization. Follicle-resident FRCs established a favorable niche for B lymphocytes via production of the cytokine BAFF. Thus, our study indicates that adaptive immunity requires an intact FRC network and identifies a subset of FRCs that control B cell homeostasis and follicle identity.