Dynamic responses by lymph node stromal cells to primary and secondary infection.

Lymph nodes (LN) are constructed of intricate networks of endothelial and mesenchymal stromal cells. These include the fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC), lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) and blood endothelial cells (BEC). We performed a comprehensive analysis of LSC responses to skin viral infection and found that LSC subsets responded robustly. Infection induced rapid transcriptional regulation of large numbers of both shared and unique genes in FRC, LEC and BEC to support LN remodeling and the immune response. This transcriptional program was transient, returning to homeostasis within one month of infection. Yet, expanded FRC networks persisted for greater than three months after infection. Our results reveal the complexity of LN stromal cell responses during infection and suggest that LN remodeling to acute infection supports successive immune responses.

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Gregory JL, Walter A, Alexandre YO, Hor JL, Liu R, Ma JZ, Devi S, Tokuda N, Owada Y, Mackay LK, Smyth GK, Heath WR, Mueller SN