ScienceDaily (July 5, 2012) — Neuropathologists at the University of Zurich have solved the puzzle surrounding the origins of follicular dendritic cells -- cells of lymphoid organs that play an important role in many autoimmune and infectious diseases. The UZH research team has demonstrated that follicular dendritic cells originate in cells located in the walls of blood vessels. Thanks to these findings, scientists now have the means to investigate key features of the development of autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, tumors, and prion infections.
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Chronic inflammatory conditions are extremely common diseases in humans and in the entire animal kingdom. Both in autoimmune diseases and pathogen-caused diseases, the inflamed areas are rapidly colonized by antibody producing B lymphocytes -- which organize themselves in highly structured areas called "lymphoid follicles." The scaffold of such follicles is provided by follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). FDCs have important roles in the development of immune responses, since they trap antigens for protracted periods of, thereby training B lymphocytes to recognize the invaders. However, FDCs can also play deleterious roles in disease, because they can provide sanctuaries for infectious pathogens such as the human immunodeficiency virus and prions.
But where do FDCs come from? Because they can arise so quickly, it has been discussed that FDCs might arise from circulating blood cells. Conversely, if FDCs are immobile cells, they would have to be ubiquitous in order to support formation of lymphoid follicles in any given place of the body.
In a paper which is being published in the journal Cell, Dr. Nike Kräutler in the team of Professor Adriano Aguzzi at the University of Zurich went after the latter question. Using novel markers identified in the Aguzzi laboratory in the past several years, they have identified clues suggesting that FDC precursor cells exist in the wall of blood vessels. This would explain many of the properties of FDCs, including the broad range of organs in which lymphoid follicles can arise during inflammatory conditions -- because blood vessels are present in most organs of the body.
The specific morphology of the putative FDC precursor cells suggested that they be identical with mural cells, pluripotent cells which decorate vessel walls. One typical marker of mural cells is platelet derived growth factor receptor
See Also:
Chronic inflammatory conditions are extremely common diseases in humans and in the entire animal kingdom. Both in autoimmune diseases and pathogen-caused diseases, the inflamed areas are rapidly colonized by antibody producing B lymphocytes -- which organize themselves in highly structured areas called "lymphoid follicles." The scaffold of such follicles is provided by follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). FDCs have important roles in the development of immune responses, since they trap antigens for protracted periods of, thereby training B lymphocytes to recognize the invaders. However, FDCs can also play deleterious roles in disease, because they can provide sanctuaries for infectious pathogens such as the human immunodeficiency virus and prions.
But where do FDCs come from? Because they can arise so quickly, it has been discussed that FDCs might arise from circulating blood cells. Conversely, if FDCs are immobile cells, they would have to be ubiquitous in order to support formation of lymphoid follicles in any given place of the body.
In a paper which is being published in the journal Cell, Dr. Nike Kräutler in the team of Professor Adriano Aguzzi at the University of Zurich went after the latter question. Using novel markers identified in the Aguzzi laboratory in the past several years, they have identified clues suggesting that FDC precursor cells exist in the wall of blood vessels. This would explain many of the properties of FDCs, including the broad range of organs in which lymphoid follicles can arise during inflammatory conditions -- because blood vessels are present in most organs of the body.
The specific morphology of the putative FDC precursor cells suggested that they be identical with mural cells, pluripotent cells which decorate vessel walls. One typical marker of mural cells is platelet derived growth factor receptor