title: Characterization of human fibroblastic reticular cells as potential immunotherapeutic tools.
abstract: Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are essential players during adaptive immune responses not only as a structural support for the encounter of antigen-presenting cells and naive T lymphocytes but also as a source of modulatory signals. However, little is known about this cell population in humans. To address the phenotypical and functional analysis of human FRCs here we established splenic (SP) and mesenteric lymph node (LN) CD45-CD31-CD90+podoplanin+myofibroblastic cell cultures. They shared the phenotypical characteristics distinctive of FRCs, including the expression of immunomodulatory factors and peripheral tissue antigens. Nevertheless, human FRCs also showed particular features, some differing from mouse FRCs, like the lack of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) expression after interferon (IFN)γstimulation. Interestingly, SP-FRCs expressed higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, BMP4, CCL2, CXCL12 and Notch molecules, and strongly adapted their functional profile to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) and IFNγ stimulation. In contrast, we found higher expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)β and Activin A in LN-FRCs that barely responded via Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)3 and constitutively expressed retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 1 enzyme, absent in SP-FRCs. This study reveals human FRCs can be valuable models to increase our knowledge about the physiology of human secondary lymphoid organs in health and disease and to explore the therapeutic options of FRCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Víctor G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Del Amo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Entrena
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lidia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sevilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Río
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángeles
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: rmsacedo@ucm.es.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacedón
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: C116013:DEAF1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: human fibroblastic reticular cells; immunomodulation; lymph node; spleen