Published in

Nature Research, Nature Communications, 1(8), 2017

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00504-9

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Interactions between fibroblastic reticular cells and B cells promote mesenteric lymph node lymphangiogenesis

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

AbstractLymphatic growth (lymphangiogenesis) within lymph nodes functions to promote dendritic cell entry and effector lymphocyte egress in response to infection or inflammation. Here we demonstrate a crucial role for lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTβR) signaling to fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) by lymphotoxin-expressing B cells in driving mesenteric lymph node lymphangiogenesis following helminth infection. LTβR ligation on fibroblastic reticular cells leads to the production of B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), which synergized with interleukin-4 (IL-4) to promote the production of the lymphangiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C, by B cells. In addition, the BAFF-IL-4 synergy augments expression of lymphotoxin by antigen-activated B cells, promoting further B cell–fibroblastic reticular cell interactions. These results underlie the importance of lymphotoxin-dependent B cell–FRC cross talk in driving the expansion of lymphatic networks that function to promote and maintain immune responsiveness.