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Published on: January 31, 2016
Vimentin immunostaining in fibroblastic reticulum cells within human reactive and neoplastic lymphoid follicles
A Gloghini1, R Volpe, A Carbone
1Division of Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy.
Insights
Fibroblastic reticulum cells (FRCs) are specifically located in the mantle zones of lymphoid follicles, distinct from follicular dendritic reticulum cells (DRCs). This distribution suggests FRCs play a role in the mantle zone microenvironment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Fibroblastic reticulum cells (FRCs) are stationary cells within lymphoid tissues.
- Understanding FRC distribution is crucial for comprehending lymphoid tissue microenvironments.
- Previous studies have not clearly delineated FRC localization within lymphoid follicles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the distribution of vimentin-positive (VIM+) FRCs in human reactive and neoplastic lymphoid follicles.
- To compare the distribution of VIM+ FRCs with that of S-100 protein-positive (S-100+) follicular dendritic reticulum cells (DRCs).
- To investigate the potential role of FRCs in the mantle zone microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Immunoenzymatic and immunofluorescence techniques were used on fixed, paraffin-embedded human lymphoid tissue sections.
- Anti-vimentin (V9) antibody visualized FRCs, and anti-S-100 protein antibody visualized DRCs.
- Analysis included 37 reactive lymphoid specimens and 10 nodular/follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs).
Main Results:
- Vimentin-positive (VIM+) FRCs were randomly distributed in paracortical and interfollicular areas.
- VIM+ FRCs were specifically located in the mantle zones of secondary follicles, absent from germinal centers.
- A clear distinction was observed between VIM+ FRCs in mantle zones and S-100+ DRCs within germinal centers.
Conclusions:
- The intrafollicular distribution of VIM+ FRCs is specific to the mantle zone.
- FRCs, particularly VIM+ FRCs, are stationary cells closely associated with the mantle zone microenvironment.
- FRCs may have sustentacular and immunologic functions within the mantle zone, analogous to DRCs in germinal centers.
Abstract:
We analyzed the distribution of fibroblastic reticulum cells (FRCs), stationary cells of lymphoid tissues, as visualized by the anti-vimentin (V9) monoclonal antibody in human reactive and neoplastic lymphoid follicles, by using immunoenzymatic and immunofluorescence methods on fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 37 lymphoid specimens with reactive disorders and 10 specimens with nodular/follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). The pattern of distribution of the vimentin-positive (VIM+) FRCs was compared with that of follicular dendritic reticulum cells (DRCs) as visualized by anti-S-100 protein antibody. Elongate VIM+ FRCs intimately attached to reticulum fibers were randomly distributed in the paracortical and interfollicular areas of lymph nodes, whereas they were recognized specifically in the mantle zones of the secondary follicles, mostly in the outer margins. Germinal centers were consistently devoid of VIM+ FRCs. Comparative analysis on serial sections as well as paired immunoperoxidase and double immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that there was a sharp difference between the patterns of intrafollicular distribution of VIM+ FRCs and S-100 protein-positive (S-100+) DRCs without juxtaposition, the FRCs being confined to the mantle zones. In the 10 nodular/follicular NHLs VIM+ FRCs could be observed in the thinned mantles of neoplastic nodules displaying a corona-like pattern that accentuated the boundaries of the nodules. The results of this study support the view that the intrafollicular distribution of VIM+ FRCs is specific for the mantle zone. The different microenvironmental organization within the follicles of VIM+ FRCs and S-100+ DRCs suggests that FRCs or at least VIM+ FRCs are stationary cells strictly related to the mantle zone microenvironment, where they may play a role in supposed sustentacular and immunologic functions similar to that of DRCs in the germinal center microenvironment.
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