Lymph node fibroblastic reticular cells directly present peripheral tissue antigen under steady-state and inflammatory conditions

J Exp Med. 2010 Apr 12;207(4):689-97. doi: 10.1084/jem.20092642. Epub 2010 Mar 22.

Abstract

Lymph node stromal cells (LNSCs) can induce potent, antigen-specific T cell tolerance under steady-state conditions. Although expression of various peripheral tissue-restricted antigens (PTAs) and presentation to naive CD8+ T cells has been demonstrated, the stromal subsets responsible have not been identified. We report that fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), which reside in the T cell zone of the LN, ectopically express and directly present a model PTA to naive T cells, inducing their proliferation. However, we found that no single LNSC subset was responsible for PTA expression; rather, each subset had its own characteristic antigen display. Studies to date have concentrated on PTA presentation under steady-state conditions; however, because LNs are frequently inflammatory sites, we assessed whether inflammation altered stromal cell-T cell interactions. Strikingly, FRCs showed reduced stimulation of T cells after Toll-like receptor 3 ligation. We also characterize an LNSC subset expressing the highest levels of autoimmune regulator, which responds potently to bystander inflammation by up-regulating PTA expression. Collectively, these data show that diverse stromal cell types have evolved to constitutively express PTAs, and that exposure to viral products alters the interaction between T cells and LNSCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • B7-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endothelial Cells / chemistry
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Lymph Nodes / cytology*
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Ovalbumin / genetics
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Poly I-C / immunology
  • Stromal Cells / chemistry
  • Stromal Cells / immunology*
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Autoantigens
  • B7-1 Antigen
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Cd274 protein, mouse
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Peptides
  • TLR3 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Ovalbumin
  • Poly I-C