Abstract
Lymph node stromal cells coordinate the adaptive immune response in secondary lymphoid organs, providing both a structural matrix and soluble factors that regulate survival and migration of immune cells, ultimately promoting Ag encounter. In several inflamed tissues, resident fibroblasts can acquire lymphoid-stroma properties and drive the formation of ectopic aggregates of immune cells, named tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). Mature TLSs are functional sites for the development of adaptive responses and, consequently, when present, can have an impact in both autoimmunity and cancer conditions. In this review, we go over recent findings concerning both lymph node stromal cells and TLSs function and formation and further describe what is currently known about their role in disease, particularly their potential in tolerance.
Footnotes
This work was supported by Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (NWO ZonMw) TOP Grant 91217014 (to R.E.M. and L.G.M.v.B).
Abbreviations used in this article:
- CP
- cryptopatch
- DC
- dendritic cell
- FDC
- follicular dendritic cell
- FRC
- fibroblastic reticular cell
- GC
- germinal center
- HEV
- high endothelial venule
- iBALT
- induced BALT
- ILF
- isolated lymphoid follicle
- LEC
- lymphatic endothelial cell
- LN
- lymph node
- LNSC
- LN stromal cell
- LS
- lymphoid structure
- LT
- lymphotoxin
- LTi
- lymphoid tissue inducer
- LTβR
- LT-β receptor
- MRC
- marginal reticular cell
- Pdpn
- podoplanin
- RA
- rheumatoid arthritis
- SLO
- secondary lymphoid organ
- TLS
- tertiary lymphoid structure
- TRA
- tissue-restricted Ag
- Treg
- T regulatory cell.
- Received July 24, 2020.
- Accepted November 3, 2020.
- Copyright © 2021 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
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