Follicular dendritic cells: origin, function, and different disease-associated patterns

Abstract

Summary Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are a specialized type of antigen-presenting dendritic cells that are largely restricted to lymphoid follicles. They form dense three-dimensional meshwork patterns within benign follicles, which maintain the follicular architecture. The FDC function is to bind and retain antigens by linking to complement and immune complexes and then present these antigens to germinal center B cells that start the secondary immune response. FDCs aid in the rescue of bound B cells from apoptosis, and induce the differentiation of B cells into long-term memory B cell clones or plasma cells. We will discuss the different patterns of the FDC meshwork observed in different types of reactive and neoplastic disorders, which may be due to underlying different roles that FDCs may play in these disorders and whether changes in the architecture of the FDC meshwork can be useful in routine diagnostic practice or have a prognostic value.

Role of the Lymphotoxin/LIGHT System in the Development and Maintenance of Reticular Networks and Vasculature in Lymphoid Tissues

“…FDC scaffold the B cell follicles and perform a multitude of functions related to antigen-presentation, cell survival, and handling of apoptotic cells (9–12). They possess a unique recycling mechanism to protect captured antigen from degradation and retain it for long-term presentation (52).…”

“…Lymphotoxin-beta receptor signaling is essential for the development, differentiation, and maintenance of FDC networks in the SLO, in mucosal compartments and in chronically inflamed sites, i.e., so-called tertiary lymphoid tissues/organs (TLTs/TLOs) (9–12). TNF signaling is also critical for the differentiation of the FDC phenotype, but not FDC maintenance at least in a secondary follicle.…”

“…These various stromal elements have been increasingly well studied over the last decade with major advances occurring in the description of their developmental lineages and differentiation as well as their activation and adaptation in reactive lymphoid organs. This field has been extensively reviewed (1–12). In general, the stromal cells in the secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) include reticular cells of which there are at least two different kinds, the follicular dendritic cell (FDC) and the fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC).…”

Follicular Dendritic Cell Pattern in Early Lymphomas Involving Follicles

“…3 In FL, FDCs possess a possible role in the stimulation and proliferation of the neoplastic B cells. 2 The 2008 "WHO Classification of Tumors of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues" has addressed the problem of early events in the evolution of lymphoid neoplasia. 5 The morphologic pattern of the FDC meshwork in overt lymphomas of follicular origin is heterogenous and differs according to the lymphoma subtypes.…”

Characterization of the Immune Regulation Function of Fibroblastic Reticular Cells Originating from Lymph Node Stroma

“…zone의 여포를 구성하며 오랫동안 항원을 보유하여 B cell의 attraction, activation과 maturation에 중추적 역할을 하는 스 트로마세포로 알려졌다 [19]. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) 는 항상성 유지 케모카인 CCL19/CCL21과 부착분자 ICAM-1 발현을 통해 림프구와 수지상 세포를 림프절로 안내하는 역할 을 하는 가이드 역할을 한다 [5,20].…”