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Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Blocking Lymph Flow by Suturing Afferent Lymphatic Vessels in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2020
Communication, construction, and fluid control: lymphoid organ fibroblastic reticular cell and conduit networks
Sophie E Acton1, Lucas Onder2, Mario Novkovic2
1Stromal Immunology Group, Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK.
Abstract:
Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are a crucial part of the stromal cell infrastructure of secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). Lymphoid organ fibroblasts form specialized niches for immune cell interactions and thereby govern lymphocyte activation and differentiation. Moreover, FRCs produce and ensheath a network of extracellular matrix (ECM) microfibers called the conduit system. FRC-generated conduits contribute to fluid and immune cell control by funneling fluids containing antigens and inflammatory mediators through the SLOs. We review recent progress in FRC biology that has advanced our understanding of immune cell functions and interactions. We discuss the intricate relationships between the cellular FRC and the fibrillar conduit networks, which together form the basis for efficient communication between immune cells and the tissues they survey.
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