We study the interactions between immune cells and their immediate environment in health and disease. In this context, we have focussed on mesenchymal, lymphatic endothelial and B cells. The mesenchymal follicular dendritic cells, provide the cues required for B cell organization into primary follicles and for the germinal center reaction. Yet, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying their differentiation are not fully understood.
Here we provide evidence for a function of a metabolite released by a subset of lymphatic endothelial cells in the lymph node for the differentiation of follicular dendritic cells.
These findings have implications in cancer and autoimmune treatments where tertiary lymphoid tissue with a prominent B cell stroma arise.

Chris Müller is invited by Florence Niedergang.