Lymph node structural organization is reported to be governed by the stromal cells ^[1]. Fibroblast reticular cells (FRCs), a subset of the stromal cells found in the T lymphocyte region of lymph nodes (LNs) and other secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), have been described as much more than structural cells ^[2].

FRCs are described to be organized in a conduit system called the “reticular fiber network”, responsible for transferring antigens from tissue to T cell zones in LNs and for controlling the conduit matrix deposition during lymph node expansion ^[3][4].

Their ability for cytokine and chemokine production has been demonstrated in several studies ^[2][5][6], and their relevant multifunctional roles and multiple subsets have been previously defined ^[7]. In addition, mice and human lymph node-derived FRC’s ability to react to inflammatory stimuli has been described ^[8][9][10].

Moreover, a few studies have implicated FRC in peripheral tolerance. Certain stromal cells can express antigens from peripheral tissues (PTA) and mediate the maintenance of peripheral tolerance through the deletion of self-reactive T cells and other mechanisms ^{[11][12][13][14][15][16]}. In addition, other cells previously known as structural cells, such as epithelium, endothelium, and fibroblasts, have also been implicated as players in the immune response ^[17].

However, there are several obscure points in FRC biology that need elucidation, mainly that of their dual role augmenting and, thereby, controlling the immune response. In this sense, this systematic review lists several FRC mechanisms described as controlling mechanisms of the immune response ^{[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]}.

The articles reviewed here report on using several animal models of disease and/or genetically modified mice as tools to investigate FRCs’ effect on T cells. These articles also approach and clarify the mechanisms involved in T cell proliferation or differentiation in subsets with regulatory, effector, or memory profiles ^{[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]}. In addition, these articles reported the markers used to identify and isolate FRCs, as well as the methods used for these cells’ cultivation.

Lately, FRCs’ ability for controlling the immune response and its role in several pathological conditions, such as viral infection, inflammation, metastatic cancer, and autoimmunity, are also included in this review. Consequently, we comprise here the latest updates in FRC biology, their impact on T cell fate, how they participate in diseases, and how they could be manipulated in order to ameliorate the course of certain conditions.

FRC is a specific subset of stromal cells present in the lymph node, and they are precisely located in the T cell zone. There are other stromal cell subsets in lymph nodes, described as double-negative cells, follicular dendritic cells, blood endothelial cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, and others that are not discussed in this review ^[42]. The results of this review firstly show the characteristics of the host type used for analyzing FRC function. In addition, strategies used by them in order to achieve their target objectives, including model characteristics, such as source, genotype, age, and gender, are described in Table 1. The main characteristics of FRCs, their origin, as well the lymph node (LN) digestion process, and techniques used for their isolation are described in Table 2. The immune cell sources, as well as their characteristics, are described in Table 3. All these variations between the models studied, cell origins, and characterization, sometimes lead to different conclusions, making the comparison between studies difficult or conflicting, such as the role of FRCs in T cell proliferation, sometimes described as stimulators and, at other times, as limiting. Next, we assembled the studies with the same subject (Table 4) and compared them, trying to show the differences and, more importantly, comparisons between the achieved results (Figure 1).

Ref.	Year	Host
		Ref.	Interventions
Lymph Node Region	Digestion Type	Digestion Solution	FRC Culture Medium + Supplement	FRC Immunophenotypic Characterization	Immune Cell Immunophenotypic Characterization	Technique for Cell Separation	Purity (%)	Source	Genotype	Age (Weeks)	Gender	Type	Time (Days)
Aparicio-Domingo et al. [18]
Aparicio-Domingo et al.	2020	[18]Mice C57BL/6J	IL-33
Aparicio-Domingo et al. [18]	gfp/gfp	; IL-33	gfp/+	7–19	M	LCMV clone 13 and WE virus; tamoxifen	Single dose; 6 (3/week)
Axillary; brachial; inguinal	Enzymatic	Collagenase IV; DNase I; CaCl	2	DMEM (2% FCS)	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	>94	LN	CD8+ T cells	Non selection performed	DMEM (2% FCS)	CD45, CD8α, CD4, TRCαβ
Aparicio-Domingo et al. [18]	IL-33-GFP reporter mice	LCMV	3 days/w for 2 weeks	FC and RNA sequencing	FRC is one important IL-33 source in LNs, vital for driving acute and chronic antiviral T cell responses.	Dertschnig et al. [19]
Dertschnig et al.	2020	[	Dertschnig et al. Mice C57BL/6	19[19]Female to male bone marrow transplant model (BMT), T cell-depleted, plus transgenic TCR-CD8 MataHari (Mh)	NR	]	LNM	Dexamethasone; DT; Gy irradiation	3; 4
Peripheral; mesenteric	Enzymatic	DNase; Liberase	T cells	CD3 negative selection followed by CD4 and CD8αNC	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	positive selection (MicroBeads—Myltenyi)	NR	CD45, CD45.1, CD3, CD4, CD8α, CD62L, CD44, CD69, CD127, Vα2, Vβ5
Eom et al. [20]	LN	NA	NA	NA	CD45, CD3, CD8
Anti-viral response
Dertschnig et al. [19	NR	]	FRC and DC ablation in vivo; identification of PTA regulatory genes; BTM model induction	GvHD	2 weeks	FC, RNA sequencing, confocal microscopy	The loss of PTA presentation by FRCs during GVHD leads to permanent damage in their networks in lymphoid tissues.	Control of peripheral tolerance	Eom et al. [20]	2020	Human	Metastatic melanoma and surgery	NA	NA	NA	NA
Eom et al. [20]
Eom et al. [20]	Axillary; inguinal; cervical; mesenteric; mediastinum	Enzymatic	DNase I; Liberase DH	RPMI-1640	Identification of distinctive subpopulations of CD90+ SCs presentCD45, CD31, PDPN	NR	NR	in melanoma-infiltrated LNs	Melanoma	NA	FC, gene expression	There are several distinct subsets of FRCs present in melanoma-infiltrated LNs. These FRCs may be related to cancer metastasis invasion and progression by avoiding T cells through secreted factors.	Lymph node invasion metastasis and its correlation with FRC gene expression.	Gonzalez et al. [21]	2020	Mice (NOD/ShiLtJ, NOR/LtJ, and NOD.CgTg); Human
Gonzalez et al. [	Type 1		diabetes	12	21F	NA	]	Skin-draining (brachial; axillary; inguinal); PancreaticNA
Enzymatic	Collagenase P; DNase I; Dispase II	NR	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	Gonzalez et al. [21]	Spleen	CD8+ T cellsNR	CD8 isolation by negative selection (Microbeads—MojoSort)	NR	CD45, CD8, CD44, CD25
Gonzalez et al. [21]	Tissue-engineered stromal reticula and FRC/T cell co-culture	Type 1 diabetes	NA	FC, immunofluorescence, imaging	FRCs modulate their interactions with autoreactive T cells by remodeling their reticular network in LNs. FRC with decreased contractility through gp38 downregulation, can loosen/relax their network, potentially decreasing FRC tolerogenic interactions with autoreactive T cells and promoting their escape from peripheral regulation in LNs.	Role of FRCs on tolerance and T1D	Knop et al. [22]
Knop et al.	2020	[	Knop et al. Mice C57BL/6N and ROSA26RFP	22][IL-7−/−, PGK-Cre, FLPO, RAG1−/−, Thy1.1+ OT-I	NR	NR	NA	NA
22	Peripheral; mesenteric	]Enzymatic	LN; spleen	T cells and NK	CD8α positive selection (MicroBeads—Myltenyi)	RPMI	CD45, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8α, CD62L, Bcl-2, CD127, Nk1.1, RORγt
Knop et al. [22]	Collagenase P; Dispase II; DNase I; Latrunculin B	RPMI-1640	CD45; CD31; PDPN	IL-7fl/fl mice and adoptive T cell transfer	NA	NA	FC	IL7, produced by LN FRCs-regulated T cell homeostasis, is crucial for TCM maintenance.Cell sorting	IL7 produced by LN FRCs is crucial for TCM>73.3	maintenance	Perez-Shibayama et al. [23]	2020	Mice C57BL/6	CCL19-Cre IFNARfl/fl	8–10
Perez-Shibayama et al. [23]	Inguinal	NR	LCMV Armstrong	NR
Enzymatic	Collagenase F; DNase I	RPMI	Perez-Shibayama et al. [23]	LN; spleen	T cell subsets and exhaustion
Perez-Shibayama et al.	No selection performed	NR	NR	NR	[23]RPMI	CD45.1, CD45.2, CD45R, CD8α, CD8β, CD3e, CD44 CD62L, PD-1, PDL1
LCMV-infected mice, FRC ex vivo restimulation and cytokine production	LCMV Armstrong	8 d	FC	IFNAR-dependent shift of FRC subsets toward an immunoregulatory state reduces exhaustive CD8+ T cell activation.	IFN type 1 influences FRC peripheral tolerance	Brown et al. [24]	2019	Mice C57BL/6
Brown et al. [24	IL-6	−/−	; NOS2−/−	5–12	]M	PR8-GP33-41, LCMV, influenza, OT-1 T cells with OVA	NR
NR	Enzymatic	Brown et al.	Collagenase P; DNase I; Dispase	[α-MEM	CD45; CD31; PDPN	24]	LN	CD8+ T cells	CD8α positive selection (MicroBeads—Myltenyi)
Brown et al. [24]	FRC/T cell co-cultures	Influenza and LCMV infection	RPMI; α-MEM	CD45.1, CD45.2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD275, CD28, CD44
NR	FC and RNA sequencing	Cell sorting	>95	FRCs play a role over restricting T cell expansion—they can also outline the fate and function of CD8+ T cells through their IL-6 production.	FRCs influence the CD8 T cells fate	Kasinath et al. [25]	2019	Mice CD-1 IGS or C57BL/6 or C57BL/6J	CCL19-Cre iDTR	8–10	M	Nephrotoxic serum (NTS); DT	3
Kasinath et al. [25]	Kidney	NA	Kasinath et al. [25]	LN; spleen	CD4+ T cellsNA	NA	NA	No selection performed	NR	CD45, CD3, CD4, CD44, CD62L, IL-17A
Kasinath et al. [25]	Mouse FRC depletion and treatment with anti-PDPN antibody	Crescentic Glomerulonephritis (GN)	3 d	FC and gene expression	Removal of kidney-draining lymph nodes, depletion of fibroblastic reticular cells, and treatment with anti-podoplanin antibodies each resulted in the reduction of kidney injury in GN.	NA	NA	Role of FRCs and PDPN expression in GN	Kelch et al. [26]	2019	Mice C57BL/6J	NA	9–22	M	NA	NA
Majumder et al.
Kelch et al. [26]	Popliteal; mesenteric; Inguinal	NA	Kelch et al. [26NA	]	LNNA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Kelch et al. [26]	3D imaging and topological mapping	NA	NA	EVIS imaging and confocal microscopy	T cell zones showed homogeneous branching, conduit density was significantly higher in the superficial T cell zone compared with the deep zone. Although the biological significance of this structural segregation is still unclear, independent reports have pointed to an asymmetry in cell positioning in both zones. Naive T cells tend to [27]
occupy the deep TCZ, whereas memory T cells preferentially locate to the superficial zones,		and innate effector cells can often be found in the interfollicular regions.	FRC conduits and their distribution inside LNs	Majumder et al. [272019	]	Mesenteric; inguinalMice C57BL/6	Majumder et al. [27]EnzymaticIL-17A−/−; IL-17RA	LNfl/fl; OT-II, ACT1−/−; CCL19-Cre; IL23R−/−; Regnase1+/-	6–12	M-F	DNase I; Liberase; Dispase	RPMI	CD45; CD31; PDPN;MOG with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pertussis toxin on/OT-II CD4+ T cells with OVA/DSS	2
Microbeads isolation	>98	T and B cells	Masters et al. [28]	2019	Mice C57BL/6	RAG−/−; CD45.1	2–4 m and 19–21 m
Masters et al. [28]	Mesenteric; popliteal	Enzymatic	Liberase TL; Benzonuclease	M	Influenza	NR
RPMI-1640	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Microbeads isolation	>90	Schaeuble et al. [29]	2019	Mice C57BL/6	NOS2−/−; OT-1; COX2−/−
Schaeuble et al. [29]	Peripheral (axillary, brachial, inguinal)	Enzymatic	, COX2ΔCCL19Cre, and ROSA26-EYFPCCL19Cre	≥6	NR	OVA and poly (I:C)	4
Collagenase IV; DNase I	DMEM (2% FCS)	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Microbeads isolation	≥90	Dubrot et al. [30]	2018	Mice C57BL/6
Dubrot et al. [30	CIITA	−/−	; pIV−/−; K14 TGP IVKO; RAG2−/− PROX-1-Cre MHC-IIfl	>12m	]NR	Tamoxifen; IFN-γ and FTY720	4 (Twice/day); 6
Skin-draining	Enzymatic	Collagenase D; DNase I	HBSS	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	NR	Knoblich et al. [31]	2018	Human	Cadaveric donors	NA	NA	NA	NA
Maaraouf et al. [32
NR	NR	CD45, CD45.2, CD4, B220, IL-17A, IL-17R
Majumder et al. [27]	Metabolic assay	Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis	7 d	FC, immunoblotting, siRNA transfection	During Th17 differentiation in LNs, IL-17 signals to FRCs and impacts LN stromal organization by promoting FRC activation through a switch on their phenotype from quiescence to highly metabolic.	Masters et al. [28]	LN; peripheral blood	CD8+ T	CD8 isolation by negative selection (Microbeads—MojoSort)	NR	CD45, CD45.1, CD45.2, CD69, CD8α
FRCs are impacted by metabolic alterations driven by IL-17
Masters et al. [28]	FRC-mediated T cell proliferation inhibition and T cell survival assays	Aging and influenza infection	NR	FC	Age-related changes in LN stromal cells may have the largest impact on the initiation of the immune response to influenza infection, and may be a factor contributing to delayed T cell responses to this virus.	Aging impacts the adaptive anti-viral immune response initiation in LN	Schaeuble et al. [29]	LN; spleen	T cells	No selection performed	RPMI	CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8α, CD44, CD62L, CD279, FoxP3, CD25
Schaeuble et al. [29]	Nos2−/−, COX2−/− mice and FRC/T cell co-culture	COX/Prostaglandin E2 pathway	4 d	FC	FRCs constitutively express high levels of COX2 and its product PGE2, thereby identified as a mechanism of T cell proliferation control.	PGE2 and COX2 pathways in FRCs are implicated in the control of T cell proliferation	Dubrot et al. [30]	LN; spleen	T cells, B cells, Treg, and DC	Pan T isolation by negative selection (MicroBeads—Myltenyi)	NR	CD45, CD44, CD3, CD4, CD8α, FOXp3, Ly5.1, CD11b, CD19, CD25, CD62L, PDCA-1, PD-1, IL-17, IFNγR
Dubrot et al. [30]	Adoptive transfer T cells in RAG−/− mice and Treg suppression assay	MHC II-induced expression by FRC and LEC and its impact on autoimmunity	5 d	Knoblich et al. [31]	NR	Enzymatic	Collagenase P; DNase I; Dispase	α-MEM (10% FBS)	Knoblich et al. [31]	LN; tonsils	T cells	Pan T isolation by negative selection (MicroBeads—Myltenyi)	NR	CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD62L, CD27, CD45RO, CD25
FC	LNSCs inhibit autoreactive T-cell responses by directly presenting antigens through endogenous MHCII molecules.	Control of peripheral tolerance in autoimmunity	CD45; PDPN	NR	99	]	2018	Mice C57BL/6	CCL19-Cre; iDTR; RAG1−/−	NR	Maaraouf et al. NR
Maaraouf et al. [32[32	DT; LTβr-Ig	]	]Kidney	1; 2
Enzymatic	Collagenase P; DNase I; Dispase II	Spleen	T cells	Pan T isolation by negative selectionDMEM (10% FBS)	CD45; CD31; PDPN	NR	(MicroBeads—Myltenyi)NR	NR	CD45, CD4	Chung et al. [33]	2017	Mice BALB/c or C57BL/6
Chung et al. [33]	Peripheral (cervical, axial, brachial, inguinal)	Enzymatic	TgMx1-Cre; DLL1fl/fl; DLL4fl/fl; NOTCH2fl/fl; RAG1−/−	6–10 or 8–12	M-F	Collagenase IV; DNase I	DMEM (2% FBS)poly (I:C)/8.5-9 Gy;	CD45; CD31; PDPN poly (I:C)/6 Gy irradiation	Cell sorting0.16; 0.12
NR
Chung et al. [33]	Spleen; peripheral blood	T cells, B cells, FDCs, Treg, and DCs	T cell Thy.1 selection (Microbeads—StemCells Technologies)	NA	Gao et al. [34]	2017	Mice C57BL/6 and Human
Knoblich et al. [31]	T cell and CAR T cell activation assay	COX/Prostaglandin E2, iNOS, IDO and TGF-β pathways in FRCs,	NA	FC and RNA sequencing	FRCs block proliferation and modulate differentiation of newly activated naïve human T cells, without requiring T cell feedback.	FRCs used several pathways to control T cell proliferation
Maaraouf et al. [32]	FRC labeling and injection into mice	Ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI)	NR	FC, electron and confocal microscopy	Depletion of FRCs reduced T cell activation in the kidney LNs and ameliorated renal injury in acute IRI.	Role of FRCs in IRI	CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXp3, CD157, CD19, B220, CD44, CD62L, CD11c, CD11b, CD169, CD21/35, F4/80, TCRβ
Chung et al. [33]	FRC/T cell co-culture	GvHD	4 h and 3 h	FC	FRCs delivered NOTCH signals to donor alloreactive T cells at early stages after allo-BMT to program the pathogenicity of these T cells.	Role of FRC NOTCH-signaling in activating alloreactive T cells	Colon cancer	6	F	Lewis Long carcinoma cells	NA
Gao et al. [34]	Inguinal	Enzymatic	Collagenase IV; DNase I	RPMI-1640 (2% FBS)	CD45; CD31; PDPN	NA	Gao et al. [NA	34]	LN	T cells	NR	NR
Gao et al. [34]	FRC expression and secretion of Interleukin 7	Tumor-draining LNs	NA	CD45, CD4, CD8	FC	Pazstoi et al. [35]	91–97
LN tumor-infiltrating cells decreased the FRC population and IL-7 secretion, leading to declined numbers of T cells in TDLNs. This may partly explain the weakened ability of immune surveillance in TDLNs.	Role of IL-7 secretion by FRCs and its impact on tumor-draining LNs	2017	Pazstoi et al. [Mice BALB/c	35]FOXP3hCD2xRAG2	LN	T cells
Pazstoi et al. [35	−/−	xD011.10	NR	M-F	NA	NA
Pazstoi et al. [35]	Mesenteric	Enzymatic	Collagenase P; Dispase; DNase I	CD4 positive selection (Microbeads—Myltenyi)	EX VIVO	]	Treg induction in presence of FRC microvesicles.CD45, CD45.2, CD4, CD2, CD9, CD24, CD25, CD63	FRC microvesicles (MVEs)	NARPMI-1640	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	FC and RNA sequencing	Stromal cells originating from LNs contributed to peripheral tolerance by fostering de novo Treg induction by MVEs carrying high levels of TGF-β.	Role of FRC MVEs in inducing peripheral tolerance	Valencia et al. [36]	Valencia et al. 2017	Human	Brain-dead organ donors	NA	M-F	NA	[36]NA
Mesenteric	Mechanical disruption	NR
Valencia et al. [36]	LN	RPMI-1640	CD4+ T cells	CD4 naïve T cell negative selection
Valencia et al. [36]		(Microbeads—Myltenyi)	FRC/T cell co-culture	COX 2/Prostaglandin E2, iNOS, IDO and TGF-β pathways in FRCsRPMI (10% FCS)	6 hCD45, CD31, PDPN	NR	NR
FC	CD45, CD44, CD4	COX2 expression was detected in human FRCs but was not considerably upregulated after inflammatory stimulation, concluding that human and murine FRCs would regulate T lymphocytes responses using different mechanisms.	Role of FRCs integrating innate and adaptive immune responses and balancing tolerance and immunogenicity	Yu, M. et al. [37]	2017	Mice C57BL/6 and Human	PTGS2Y385F/Y385F; OVA-specific CD8 (OT-I); CD4 (OT-II)	4–6	NR	DC-vaccine	Yu, M. et al. [1.5
37]	Axillary; brachial; inguinal	Enzymatic	Collagenase P; Dispase; DNase I	DMEM (10% FBS)	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	>95
Yu, M. et al. [37]	LN	T cells	Pan T cell negative selection (Microbeads—StemCells Technologies)	RPMI (10% FBS)	CD45, CD45.1, CD45.2, CD3, CD4, CD8α, CD25, CD69, CD44
Yu, M. et al. [37]	Gil-Cruz et al. [38]	2016	Mice C57BL/6N or C57BL/6N-Tg or R26R-EYFP	Gil-Cruz et al. [38]	Mesenteric	EnzymaticMyd88−/−; TLR7−/−; CCL19-Cre	8–10	NR	MHV A59; Citrobacter rodentium	12; 6
Collagenase D; DNase I	RPMI-1640 (2% FCS)	CD45; CD31; PDPN
FRC/T cell co-culture	Gil-Cruz et al. [38]	PP; LN	T cells, B cells, NK cells, Treg, and ILCs	NR	RPMI (10% FCS)	Cell sorting	NR
COX 2/Prostaglandin E2 pathway in FRCs	NA	FC, WB	CD45, CD3e, CD4, CD8α, EOMES, FoxP3, B220, CD19, CD127, CD62L, CD44, CD69, F4/80, IL-17A, IL-7Rα, GATA3, RORγt, IL-15RαIL-15Rβ, NKp46, NK1.1	Novkovic et al. [39]	2016	Mice C57BL/6N or C57BL/6N-Tg	CCL19-Cre; iDTR	6–9	NR	DT	3 and 5
Novkovic et al. [39]
Novkovic et al. [39]	Inguinal	Enzymatic	Collagenase P; DNase I	RPMI (2% FCS)	PDPN	NA	NA
LN; Spleen	DCs and T cellsRoyer et al. [40]	2016	Mice C57BL/6 or Gbt-1.1	CXCL10−/−; CXCR3−/−; STING−/−; CD18−/−	6–12	M-F	HSV-1	NR
Takeda et al. [41]	2016	Mice C57BL/6J	LPAR2−/−; ENPP2-flox, CCCL19-Cre, LPAR5−/−; LPAR6−/−	8–12	NR	CD4+ T cells labeled with CMTMR; LTβR-Fc	0.6; 1.04; 28

         

NR
RPMI (2% FCS)
CD45, CD3, CD8, CD4, CD11c, MHCII
Royer et al.
[
40
]
Mandibular
Mechanical disruption
NR
RPMI-1640 (10% FBS)
NR
NR	NR
Takeda et al. [41]	Mesenteric; peripheral; brachial	Enzymatic	Collagenase P; Dispase; DNase I	RPMI-1640	CD45; CD31; PDPN	Cell sorting	NR

 

Ref.	Source of Cells	Cell Type	Separation Technique	Immune Cell Preservation Solution and Supplementation
Royer et al.
[
40
]
SLOs
CD8+ T cells
CD8 positive selection (Microbeads—Myltenyi)
RPMI (10% FBS)
CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8
Takeda et al.
[
41
]
LN; Spleen
T cells, B cells	CD4 naïve T cell negative selection		(Microbeads—Myltenyi)	RPMI	CD4, CD8, B220, CD44

 

Ref.	Trial Types	Study Target	Time of Intervention	Main Performed Evaluations	Results	FRC Role in Immune Response
Hyperactivity of COX-2/PGE
2
pathways in FRCs is a mechanism that maintains peripheral T cell tolerance during homeostasis.
PGE
2
and COX2 pathways in FRCs are implicated in the control of T cell proliferation.
Gil-Cruz et al.
[
38
]
ILC1 and NK cells regulation
FRC secretion of IL-15
3 h
FC	FRC secretion of IL-15 regulates homeostatic ILC1 and NK cell maintenance.	Role of FRCs in innate in immunity
Novkovic et al. [39]	FRC network topological analysis	FRC network	NA	Intravital TPM with morphometric 3D reconstitution analysis.	Physical scaffold of LNs formed by the FRC network is critical for the maintenance of LN functionality.	FRC network disruption impacts the immune response
Royer et al. [40]	Adoptive transfer of T cells and T cell response to herpesvirus-associated lymphadenitis	HSV-1	4 h	FC	Dissemination of the virus to secondary lymphoid organs impairs HSV-specific CD8+ T cell responses by driving pathological alterations to the FRCs conduit system, resulting in fewer HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in circulation.	Role of FRC in virus-specific T CD8 response
Takeda et al. [41]	Lymphocyte migration	Ablation of LPA-producing ectoenzyme autotaxin in FRCs	NA	FC, IMS, Intravital TPM	LPA produced by LN FRCs acts locally to LPA2 to induce T cell motility.	Role of FRCs in T cell local migration

  The first scenario discussed was on viral infection (Figure 1A). Aparicio-Domingo et al., in an LCMV study, concluded that FRCs displayed a stimulatory role, being a main source of IL-33 in the lymph node and crucial for leading to acute and chronic antiviral T cell responses. They also showed that FRCs mainly act on CD8 T lymphocytes by signaling via ST2 expressed by these T cells ^[18]. Severino et al. demonstrated previously, in 2017, the increased IL-33 gene expression in human FRCs after treatment with IFN-γ or IL-1β and TNF-α. These cytokines are usually released during a course of an immune response, supporting the Aparicio-Domingo et al. findings that FRCs are the main source for IL-33 ^[9]. Perez-Shibayama et al., using the LCMV model like Aparicio-Domingo et al., commented that FRCs contributed to an immunostimulatory state to prevent virus replication and spread. However, they also found a regulatory role of FRCs, showing an IFN-α-signaling dependent shift of FRCs toward an immunoregulatory state, reducing exhaustive CD8 T lymphocyte activation. They claim that type 1 IFN-mediated control of LCMV replication in FRCs is one of the major factors that determine the quality of the antiviral CD8+ T cell response ^[23]. In agreement, Talemi and Hofer sustain the idea that interferons delay the viral spread in infection, acting as sentinels, warning uninfected cells, and also are negative feedback regulators acting at a single-cell level ^[43]. Regarding the anti-viral response for influenza and LCMV, Brown et al. ^[24] showed that FRCs function is more than controlling T cell expansion. FRCs also outline the fate and function of CD8 T lymphocytes through their IL-6 production, and CD8 T cells exposed to both FCRs and IL-6 are driven to a memory phenotype. In addition, CD8 T cells cultivated in the presence of FRCs are more persistent during a viral infection than CD8 T cells stimulated without FRC presence ^[24]. Moreover, the pleiotropic function and the importance of IL-6 were reported before, supporting that this cytokine, in certain environments, could be an important player for guiding the immune response ^[44]. Next, Masters et al., reported that after aging-related changes, FRCs have an altered impact on the beginning of the immune response to influenza infection, consequently contributing to delayed T lymphocytes responses to this virus ^[28]. Moreover, their findings on the importance of homeostatic chemokines for the success of the anti-viral response are also supported by Chai et al., who previously reported on the importance of these chemokines secreted by FRCs to the immune response against virus infection, and by Thompson et al., who also reported on the role of the lymph node in aging mice and its negative impact on T cells ^[45][46]. Lastly, Royer et al. proposed that HSV-1 in lymph nodes can cause pathological alterations in the FRC conduit system, resulting in fewer HSV-specific CD8 T lymphocytes in circulation, and a diminished anti-viral response to this virus. In addition, they claim that immunodeficiency can occur as a secondary outcome of FRC alterations to SLOs ^[40]. Their results are supported by other models that impair T cell responses due to virus-associated damage to FRCs ^[47][48]. Concerning inflammation (Figure 1B) and the COX/PGE₂ pathway, which converts arachidonic acid in several prostanoids via the enzymes COX1 and COX2, FRCs have been proposed to play dual roles by either promoting or inhibiting adaptive immunity ^[49][50], similar to myeloid and T cells. Schaeuble et al.’s experiments revealed that FRCs can control T cell responses, independently of other cells, by two pathways that lead to NO release, clarifying that one pathway is activated via the sensing of IFN-y by FRCs, which is activated only by strong T cell responses, and another pathway is mediated by COX2-dependent synthesis of PGE₂, which signals via EP1 and EP2 during both weak and strong T cells responses ^[29]. Knoblich et al. also demonstrated that FRCs control T cell proliferation and modulate their differentiation ^[31]. Knoblich et al. included even more mechanisms that control T cell proliferation besides IFN-y and PGE₂, which, in human cells, do not release NO, but instead activate IDO; they point to TGF-β and the adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR) as other signaling pathways affecting T cell proliferation. They also demonstrated that human FRCs affect the fate of naïve T cells, diminishing their differentiation into central memory while enhancing effector and effector memory phenotypes ^[31]. Yu, M. et al. support these findings with their previous study on the animal model and in vitro assays, confirming that hyperactive COX-2/PGE₂ pathways in FRCs are a mechanism that maintains peripheral T cell tolerance ^[37]. In addition, Valencia et al. demonstrated the differences between mice and humans regarding COX inflammatory pathways, and concluded that human and murine FRCs would regulate T lymphocytes responses using different mechanisms, and arguing that, in humans, IDO would play a more important role than iNOS/NO ^[36]. Further, in autoimmunity, the FRC network seems to play an important role (Figure 1C). Gonzalez et al., using a type 1 diabetes (T1D) model and a 3D system of culture, found that in T1D FRCs, the reticular network organization was altered, displayed larger pores, and had a lower expression of podoplanin compared to a control animal or control culture system. They also demonstrated a reduced expression of PTAs and T1D antigens in T1D FRCs. Consequently, FRCs modulated their interactions with autoreactive T lymphocytes by remodeling their reticular network in LNs; PTAs and podoplanin played a central role and their alterations may favor T1D ^[21]. These findings are supported by a previous study from the same group that investigated alterations in pancreatic lymph nodes from humans and mice ^[51]. Kasinath et al. studied crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN), an autoimmune inflammatory condition characterized by the rapid deterioration of kidney function. They investigated the role of fibroblastic reticular cells residing in the stromal compartment of the kidney lymph node in this model. They observed that FRCs are fundamental to the propagation of the immune response in nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Following GN development, they observed an increase in effector memory and Th17 cells in the kidney LN. In addition, they observed that the removal of the kidney lymph node, a depletion of fibroblastic reticular cells, and treatment with anti-podoplanin antibodies each resulted in a reduction of kidney injury ^[25]. Majumder et al. studied the EAE model, and they also showed Th17 differentiation in LNs and that the signaling in the receptor for IL-17 in FRCs is related to collagen deposition in LNs. This work suggests that Th17 cells promote ECM deposition in inflamed LNs through FRCs-IL-17 signaling, independently of LN size or hypercellularity. As a consequence of Th17 in LN, the released IL-17 signals in FRCs impact LN stromal organization, leading to FRC activation by changing their phenotype from quiescence to highly metabolic. Moreover, the absence of IL-17 signaling in FRCs does not lead to immune failings but does cause impaired B cell responses, due to the reduced availability of BAFF, which is critical for the germinal center formation and maintenance ^[27]. In metastatic cancer (Figure 1D), FRCs appear to be regulated by the tumor cells. Eom et al. showed in human melanoma that FRCs in tumor-infiltrated LNs may favor cancer invasion and progression through secretion of soluble factors, alterations in the lymph node structure, and by promoting pathological conditions such as fibrosis ^[20]. Gao et al. also showed in tumor-infiltrated LNs a decrease in FRCs and IL-7 secretion, leading to a declined number and diminished function of T cells in LNs ^[34]. In homeostasis, as displayed in Figure 1E, FRCs played an important role in secreting homeostatic chemokines, promoting the meeting between T cells and dendritic cells on the T cell zone, and also by secreting IL-7, an essential cytokine involved in T cell effector memory differentiation ^[2][14][28]. Furthermore, in graft versus host disease (GvHD) FRCs’ ability for peripheral tissue antigen (PTA) presentation and NOTCH signaling have been shown to be important features in the aggravation and maintenance of the GvHD state (Figure 1F). Dertschnig et al. showed that the loss of PTA presentation by FRCs during GVHD leads to permanent damage in their networks in lymphoid tissues, compromising peripheral tolerance. In addition, they demonstrated that not only the disruption of FCRs occurs during GvHD but also the capacity for the regeneration of this network is impaired, different to what was found for viral infection, where the damage occurs, but after viral clearance, the network is restored ^[19]. Chung et al. showed that FRC-delivered NOTCH signals through the ligands DLL1 and DLL4 to donor alloreactive T cells help to program the pathogenicity of these T cells. Moreover, they demonstrated that the early use of neutralizing antibodies against DDL1 and DDL4 abrogated GvHD ^[33]. As seen by Kasinath et al. in GN ^[25], Maaraouf et al., using ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) with multiple IRI ^[32], reported that kidney LNs (KLNs) cause excessive deposition of ECM fibers containing fibronectin and collagen, which leads to local fibrosis, similar to kidney fibrosis. They confirmed that depletion of FRCs reduced T cell activation in the KLNs and ameliorated renal injury in acute IRI ^[25][32]. Regarding pathway investigation, Knop et al. demonstrated that FRC-derived IL-7 plays an essential role in maintaining central memory T cells, but is dispensable for naïve T cell survival ^[22]. Dubrot et al. showed a mechanism of T lymphocyte proliferation inhibition by the IFN-y-induced expression of MHC II ^[30]. In addition, they demonstrated that the deletion of MHC II in LN stromal cells in vivo leads to diminished Treg frequency and functions, and, at the same time, enhances effector cell differentiation, further leading to T cell tissue infiltration and the subsequent development of T cell-mediated autoimmunity ^[30]. Pazstoi et al. used the stromal compartment of gut-draining LNs to demonstrate that FRCs own the tolerogenic capacity that controls T cells. They also demonstrated that mesenteric LNs (mLNs) are more capable of inducing ^[35] Treg profiles than the peripheral ones. Likewise, they demonstrated that FRCs contribute to peripheral tolerance by developing de novo Treg by releasing microvesicles (MVEs), which carry high levels of TGF-β ^[35]. Gil-Cruz et al. also used mLNs and Peyer’s patches (PP) as the targets of their study and identified that an antiviral response driven by ILC1 and NK was regulated by the FRCs’ limiting provision of IL-15 ^[38]. This mechanism control seems to be activated by TLR7 and/or IL-1β, and its control is designated by the MyD88-dependent pathway ^[38]. Novkovic confirmed that the physical scaffold of LNs formed by the FRC network is critical for the maintenance and functionality of LNs ^[39], and Takeda et al. demonstrated the role of LPA derived from FRCs in T cell motility ^[41]. Kelch et al. demonstrated, by imaging, the conduit density in the deep and superficial T cell zone, concluding that although T cells within the superficial zone stay in constant contact with FRCs, and in the deep T cell zone, there is a gap that does not guarantee simultaneous contact for all T cells in this region ^[26]. In summary, FRCs in homeostasis plays an important role in secreting homeostatic chemokines and IL-7, which are essential for the immune response initiation and for T cell effector memory phenotype differentiation. In a viral setting, FRCs are the main source of IL-33, playing a regulatory role by diminishing the T cell exhaustion, and acting on T cell fate through IL-6 secretion. In this same setting, aging FRCs have a negative impact on T cells. In inflammation, FRCs have been proposed to play a dual role by either promoting or inhibiting adaptive immunity. The main mechanisms behind inflammation are related to IFN-y and PGE₂-signaling that, in murine cells, release NO and, in humans, activate IDO. In autoimmunity, the reticular network organization was altered, displayed lower expression of PTAs and podoplanin, and, in this context, IL-17 signaling impacted LN stromal organization, leading to highly metabolically activated FRCs. In metastatic cancer, FRCs appear to be regulated by the tumor cells decreasing IL-7 secretion and enhancing other soluble factors, causing alterations in the lymph node structure, such as fibrosis. In GvHD, the loss of PTA presentation by FRCs leads to permanent damage in their networks, compromising peripheral tolerance.