title: Lymph Node Stroma Dynamics and Approaches for Their Visualization.
abstract: Lymphoid stromal cells are best known as the architectural cells of lymphoid organs. For decades, they have been considered as inert elements of the immune system but this view has changed dramatically in recent years, when it was discovered that they are endowed with critical immunoregulatory functions. It is now accepted that without them, the adaptive immune response would be compromised, if not abrogated entirely. Here, we review the function of the major lymphoid stromal cell types; the way they remodel upon inflammation; discuss the available tools to track their behavior; and introduce several methodological approaches that we believe will help improving our knowledge of these pivotal cell types.
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gentek
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France. Electronic address: bajenoff@ciml.univ-mrs.fr.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bajénoff
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007107:Immune System; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology*