Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals tissue-associated fibroblastic reticular cell heterogeneity in human secondary lymphoid organs
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ABSTRACT: Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) actively support secondary lymphoid organ (SLO) architecture. They regulate innate and adaptive immunity by compartmentalizing immune cells in specialized niches, and tightly interacting with them. The phenotypic and functional diversity of FRCs in human SLOs remains largely uncharacterized. We performed a comprehensive profiling of FRCs by single-cell RNA sequencing on human tonsils and lymph nodes. We provide the first complete description of the tonsillar CD45-negative compartment. We identified and validated in tonsil, a population of follicular dendritic cells restricted to the mantle zone and discovered two CCL21-negative FRC subsets intermingling with T-cell zone reticular cells in the extrafollicular space. We also identified podoplanin-positive epithelial cells as a potential plasma cell (PC) niche. We found two levels of FRC-associated diversity: i) tissue-specific subsets; ii) shared subsets with tissue-specific gene signatures. These findings shed new light on the role of FRCs in supporting SLO-specific immune responses.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE193449 | GEO | 2023/02/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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