Project description:Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are heterogeneous. We use single cell RNA sequencing to identify subsets of FRCs in fat-associated lymphoid clusters (FALC) in the mesenteric adipose tissue
Project description:Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) (CD45- Ter119-MADCAM1- CD21/35- CD31- PDPN-) from skin draining lymph nodes of Grem1-Cre-ERT2.cki; Rosa26-LSL-EYFP mice were sorted and subjected to bulk RNA-seq of Grem1 reporter + and Grem1 reporter - cells.
Project description:Lymph node (LN) stromal cells, particularly fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), provide critical structural support and regulate immunity, tolerance and transport properties of LNs. In many tumors, LN metastasis is predictive of poor prognosis, however, stromal contribution to the evolving microenvironment of tumor draining LNs (TDLN) remains poorly understood. Here we present comparative transcriptional data of resting and TDLN FRCs after different time points of tumor drainage. FRCs were isolated from lymph nodes and FACS sorted based on the expression of CD45-, CD31- and PDPN+
Project description:Splenic white pulp (WP) structures are underpinned by fibroblastic stromal cells (FSCs) to facilitate splenic compartmentalization and execute efficient immune responses. Although distinct WP FSCs exhibit various molecular traits, the origin and the hierarchical differentiation of different cell subsets are not characterized. Here we showed, the organization of splenic WP and the differentiation of WP FSCs were governed by lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) signaling pathway. Cell fate mapping analysis revealed that different WP fibroblastic stromal cells descend from a common perivascular LTβR-sensitive mesenchymal lymphoid organizer cells (mLTo) at prenatal stage. Moreover, embryonic mLTo cells required LTβR signaling to give rise to different WP stromal cell subsets, while the proliferation of these cells was devoid of LTβR signaling but followed the development of WP during ontogeny. Moreover, cell fate mapping from different time point indicated a consecutive commitment of mLTo cells initiated from the proximal region around the splenic artery. RNAseq and differentiation trajectory analysis of distinct FSCs showed that Ltbr-deficient cells and perivascular reticular cells (PRCs) from adult spleen exhibited a progenitor phenotype and revealed a closer hierarchical lineage with embryonic mLTo cells. Taken together, our results unveil that embryonic mLTo cells residing in the perivascular niches can give rise to different FSC populations in a LTβR-dependent manner during development.
Project description:Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), a subpopulation of stromal cells in lymphoid organs and fat-associated lymphoid clusters (FALCs) in adipose tissue, play immune-regulatory roles in the host response to infection and may be useful as a form of cell therapy in sepsis. Here, we found an unexpected major role of TLR9 in controlling peritoneal immune cell recruitment and FALC formation at baseline and after sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). TLR9 regulated peritoneal immunity via suppression of chemokine production by FRCs. Adoptive transfer of TLR9-deficient FRCs more effectively decreased mortality, bacterial load, and systemic inflammation after CLP than WT FRCs. Importantly, we found that activation of TLR9 signaling suppressed chemokine production by human adipose tissue-derived FRCs. Together, our results indicate that TLR9 plays critical roles in regulating peritoneal immunity via suppression of chemokine production by FRCs. These data form a knowledge basis upon which to design new therapeutic strategies to improve the therapeutic efficacy of FRC-based treatments for sepsis and immune dysregulation diseases.
Project description:Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) shape the organization of secondary lymphoid organs and actively promote the induction of immune responses by coordinating the interaction of innate and adaptive immune cells. However, the mechanisms underlying FRC functions during viral infections have remained largely unexplored. In the study, we combined FRC-specific genetic ablation of the type 1 IFN-alpha receptor (IFNAR) with high-dimensional transcriptomics analyses to elaborate the phenotypical alterations and functional consequences of impaired innate immunological sensing in FRC during lymph node-restricted viral infection
Project description:The lymph node is home to resident macrophage populations that are essential for healthy immune function and homeostasis. They are involved in multiple processes including the initiation of the local response to pathogens, halting viral and bacterial spread, and clearance of apoptotic cells, but the macrophage niche and factors that create it are largely undefined. Here we analyse fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) as an essential component of the lymph node macrophage niche using single-cell RNA-sequencing. Our analysis revealed that most reticular cell subsets within lymph nodes expressed master macrophage regulator CSF1. We further show that signalling through CSF1R was sufficient to support macrophage development, while in the presence of LPS, FRCs underwent a mechanistic switch and maintained support through CSF1R-independent mechanisms. Our data reveal a critically important role for FRCs in the creation of the parenchymal macrophage niche within LNs.