Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), one of the major populations of non-hematopoietic stromal cells in lymph node (LNs), secrete extracellular matrix components to form a dense reticular network and lymph-draining conduit system. The T cell zone is delineated by FRCs, forming a scaffold to provide essential guidance cues to immune cells. FRCs orchestrate immune cell migration via expression of CCL19 and CCL21, as well as adhesion molecules, integrins, and glycoproteins. Beyond migration, FRCs maintain na?ve T cell homeostasis and they have the capacity to impose antigen-specific deletional tolerance, with direct presentation of viral and self-peptides to na?ve CD8+ T cells. The timing of deletional events in these studies, whether an inevitable outcome of an FRC-mediated activation signal to na?ve T cells, or a result of subsequent feedback to the FRC from the activated T cell, is unknown, as are its driving molecular mechanisms. Additionally, in the context of immune response, T cells are usually activated by dendritic cells (DCs) while in direct contact with the FRC network, therefore any effect of FRCs on activated T cells is highly relevant. Our recent studies suggest that FRCs can acquire suppressive function at different stages in the T cell response;this newly appreciated function of FRCs appears to control the expansion of potentially pathogenic T cells via a NOS2-dependent mechanism. This project aims to further define the molecular and physical basis of the interactions between activated T cells and FRCs within lymph nodes. Despite recent advances indicating that stromal determinants of secondary lymphoid organs exhibit complex regulatory roles during immune responses, our knowledge of the stromal niche and how it impacts T cell immunity and tolerance is limited. The proposed studies will define the molecular crosstalk that culminates in CD8 T cell suppression by FRCs. They will also establish the influence of FRCs on the positioning and motility of activated T cells Finally, these studies will determine the capacity of FRCs to present lymph-borne antigen to CD4 T cells. The results of these studies will elucidate the molecular and physical interactions between lymph node FRCs and newly activated CD8 and CD4 T cells, and the role of FRCs in patrolling the lymph by sampling antigens from the conduit system, and the impact of inflammation on these processes.

Public Health Relevance

Emerging evidence suggests that stromal determinants of secondary lymphoid organs exhibit complex regulatory roles during immune responses. We recently described a novel in vivo cross-talk between activated T cells and fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) that endows these stromal cells with the capacity to constrain the proliferation of activated T cells through regulated nitric oxide (NO) release. The over-arching goal of this proposal is to further elucidate the molecular and physical basis of FRC-T cell cross-talk. This work may provide critical insights for the development of new therapeutic strategies to treat human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases associated with unbridled T cell immunity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DK074500-06
Application #
8373244
Study Section
Transplantation, Tolerance, and Tumor Immunology (TTT)
Program Officer
Spain, Lisa M
Project Start
2006-04-01
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2012-08-20
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$365,335
Indirect Cost
$147,835
Name
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
076580745
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Cremasco, Viviana; Astarita, Jillian L; Grauel, Angelo L et al. (2018) FAP Delineates Heterogeneous and Functionally Divergent Stromal Cells in Immune-Excluded Breast Tumors. Cancer Immunol Res 6:1472-1485
Pikor, Natalia B; Astarita, Jillian L; Summers-Deluca, Leslie et al. (2015) Integration of Th17- and Lymphotoxin-Derived Signals Initiates Meningeal-Resident Stromal Cell Remodeling to Propagate Neuroinflammation. Immunity 43:1160-73
Brown, Flavian D; Turley, Shannon J (2015) Fibroblastic reticular cells: organization and regulation of the T lymphocyte life cycle. J Immunol 194:1389-94
Platzer, Barbara; Elpek, Kutlu G; Cremasco, Viviana et al. (2015) IgE/Fc?RI-Mediated Antigen Cross-Presentation by Dendritic Cells Enhances Anti-Tumor Immune Responses. Cell Rep :
Astarita, Jillian L; Cremasco, Viviana; Fu, Jianxin et al. (2015) The CLEC-2-podoplanin axis controls the contractility of fibroblastic reticular cells and lymph node microarchitecture. Nat Immunol 16:75-84
Fletcher, Anne L; Elman, Jessica S; Astarita, Jillian et al. (2014) Lymph node fibroblastic reticular cell transplants show robust therapeutic efficacy in high-mortality murine sepsis. Sci Transl Med 6:249ra109
Cremasco, Viviana; Woodruff, Matthew C; Onder, Lucas et al. (2014) B cell homeostasis and follicle confines are governed by fibroblastic reticular cells. Nat Immunol 15:973-81
Elpek, Kutlu G; Cremasco, Viviana; Shen, Hua et al. (2014) The tumor microenvironment shapes lineage, transcriptional, and functional diversity of infiltrating myeloid cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2:655-67
Malhotra, Deepali; Fletcher, Anne L; Turley, Shannon J (2013) Stromal and hematopoietic cells in secondary lymphoid organs: partners in immunity. Immunol Rev 251:160-76
Parekkadan, Biju; Fletcher, Anne L; Li, Matthew et al. (2012) Aire controls mesenchymal stem cell-mediated suppression in chronic colitis. Mol Ther 20:178-86

Showing the most recent 10 out of 25 publications