Multifunctional Roles of Reticular Fibroblastic Cells: More Than Meets the Eye?

Abstract

Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are stromal cells found in secondary lymphoid organ. Despite its structural function in the lymph nodes being well established, recent studies indicate that the FRCs also play a key role in immunological processes, associated with cell transit, immune response, and cells activation quality, and contribute to peripheral tolerance. To this end, we focus this review on lymph nodes FRC characterization and discuss functional aspects such as production of cytokines and chemokines and their involvement in the immune response, seeking to establish whether certain subsets have a more functional specialization.

Extracellular matrix composition of different spleen compartments of fruit bats

“…Reticular fibre is one of the fibrous components in the extracellular matrix produced by Fibroblastic Reticular Cells (FRCs) (Alvarenga & Marti, ; Textor, Mandl, & Boer, ; Ushiki, ). Reticular meshwork in the spleen forms a cell traffic system called the conduit system (Nolte et al, ; Roozendaal, Mebius, & Kraal, ).…”

“…The reticular network, in addition to playing a role in supporting the structure and division of the areas in the spleen, also has a vital role in the immune response in the spleen. Immune responses involving reticular fibres network and FRC (Alvarenga & Marti, ; Bajenoff et al, ; Nolte et al, ; Textor et al, ), include the following: (a) production of chemokines and cytokines that induce movement and homing T lymphocytes; (b) antigen selection, that is antigens with considerable molecular weight (≥68 kDa = ~2 − 3 nm) cannot pass through reticular fibres but small molecular weight antigens can passively move through the conduit pathway; (c) production of specific cytokines that induce endocytosis and antigen presentation by dendritic cells and T lymphocyte cells; (d) plays a role in peripheral tolerance; (e) is thought to play a role in regulating the specific immune system.…”

“…The reticular network, in addition to playing a role in supporting the structure and division of the areas in the spleen, also has a vital role in the immune response in the spleen. Immune responses involving reticular fibres network and FRC (Alvarenga & Marti, 2014;Bajenoff et al, 2008;Nolte et al, 2003;Textor et al, 2016), include the fol- The core of the reticular fibres is composed of collagen fibrils and interfibrillar carbohydrates, while the outer part of the reticular fibres enveloped by the cell membrane (Lokmic et al, 2008;Montes et al, 1980;Roozendaal et al, 2008). The interfibrillar carbohydrates in reticular fibres have an affinity for silver (argyrophilic).…”

Essential role of TNF-alpha in development of spleen fibroblastic reticular cells

“…In particular, the effects of FRCs on the immune response by T cells have been most widely studied [23][24][25]. For example, the T-cell zone (paracortex) is rich in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), which express the chemokine ligands CCL19 and CCL21 and thereby attract naive T cells and DCs.…”

Cytokeratin‐positive fibroblastic reticular cell: a pitfall for dermatopathologists assessing lymph nodes for Merkel cell carcinoma

“…3 A third subset, the fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC), is located in the parafollicular regions and provides structural support for the node as well as regulating the immune system. 4 FRCs exhibit a spindled or dendritic appearance and can be quite numerous with a diffuse infiltrating pattern. Immunohistochemically FRCs typically express desmin and low molecular weight CK, specifically CK8 and 18.…”