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Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Generation of Lymph Node-fat Pad Chimeras for the Study of Lymph Node Stromal Cell Origin
Published on: December 16, 2013
Fibroblastic reticular cells provide a supportive niche for lymph node-resident macrophages
Joshua D'Rozario1,2,3, Konstantin Knoblich1,3, Mechthild Lütge4
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
Abstract:
The lymph node (LN) is home to resident macrophage populations that are essential for immune function and homeostasis, but key factors controlling this niche are undefined. Here, we show that fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are an essential component of the LN macrophage niche. Genetic ablation of FRCs caused rapid loss of macrophages and monocytes from LNs across two in vivo models. Macrophages co-localized with FRCs in human LNs, and murine single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed that FRC subsets broadly expressed master macrophage regulator CSF1. Functional assays containing purified FRCs and monocytes showed that CSF1R signaling was sufficient to support macrophage development. These effects were conserved between mouse and human systems. These data indicate an important role for FRCs in maintaining the LN parenchymal macrophage niche.
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