Fibroblastic reticular cells guide T lymphocyte entry into and migration within the splenic T cell zone

J Immunol. 2008 Sep 15;181(6):3947-54. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.6.3947.

Abstract

Although a great deal is known about T cell entry into lymph nodes, much less is understood about how T lymphocytes access the splenic white pulp (WP). We show in this study that, as recently described for lymph nodes, fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) form a network in the T cell zone (periarteriolar lymphoid sheath, PALS) of the WP on which T lymphocytes migrate. This network connects the PALS to the marginal zone (MZ), which is the initial site of lymphocyte entry from the blood. T cells do not enter the WP at random locations but instead traffic to that site using the FRC-rich MZ bridging channels (MZBCs). These data reveal that FRCs form a substrate for T cells in the spleen, guiding these lymphocytes from their site of entry in the MZ into the PALS, within which they continue to move on the same network.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Arterioles
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL21 / physiology
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / genetics
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / immunology*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Radiation Chimera / genetics
  • Radiation Chimera / immunology
  • Spleen / blood supply
  • Spleen / cytology*
  • Spleen / immunology*
  • Stromal Cells / cytology
  • Stromal Cells / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / transplantation

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL21