Stromal cells (SCs) establish the compartmentalization of lymphoid tissues critical to the immune response. However, the full diversity of lymph node (LN) SCs remains undefined. Using droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified nine peripheral LN non-endothelial SC clusters. Included are the established subsets, Ccl19 T-zone reticular cells (TRCs), marginal reticular cells, follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), and perivascular cells. We also identified Ccl19 TRCs, likely including cholesterol-25-hydroxylase cells located at the T-zone perimeter, Cxcl9 TRCs in the T-zone and interfollicular region, CD34 SCs in the capsule and medullary vessel adventitia, indolethylamine N-methyltransferase SCs in the medullary cords, and Nr4a1 SCs in several niches. These data help define how transcriptionally distinct LN SCs support niche-restricted immune functions and provide evidence that many SCs are in an activated state.

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a CD4 T cell subset that is important for supporting plasma cell and germinal center (GC) responses 1,2 . The initial induction of Tfh cell properties occurs within the first few days following activation by antigen recognition on dendritic cells (DCs), though how DCs promote this cell-fate decision is not fully understood 1,2 . Moreover, although Tfh cells are uniquely defined by expression of the follicle-homing receptor CXCR5 1,2 , the guidance receptor promoting the earlier localization of activated T cells at the B cell follicle-T zone interface has been unclear 3-5 . Here we show that the G-protein coupled receptor EBI2 (GPR183) and its ligand 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol (7α,25-OHC) mediate positioning of activated CD4 T cells at the follicle-T zone interface. In this location they interact with activated DCs and are exposed to Tfh cell-promoting ICOS ligand. IL2 is a cytokine that has multiple influences on T cell fate, including negative regulation of Tfh cell differentiation [6][7][8][9][10] . We demonstrate that activated DCs in the outer T zone further augment Tfh cell differentiation by producing membrane and soluble forms of CD25, the IL2 receptor α chain, and quenching T cell-derived IL2. Mice lacking EBI2 in T cells or CD25 in DCs have reduced Tfh cells and mount defective T cell-dependent plasma cell and GC responses. These findings demonstrate that distinct niches within the lymphoid organ T zone support distinct cell fate decisions, and they establish a function for DC-derived CD25 in controlling IL2 availability and T cell differentiation.EBI2 is expressed by CD4 T cells [11][12][13][14] , but whether it has a role in positioning T cells during the early stages of activation has been unclear. Using an ovalbumin (OVA) specific TCR transgenic (OTII) system involving transfer of OTII T cells to wild-type (WT) hosts, we found that EBI2 was upregulated on cognate splenic T cells within 12 hours of Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:

Correct positioning of dendritic cells (DCs) is critical for efficient pathogen encounter and antigen presentation. Epstein-Barr virus–induced gene 2 (EBI2) has been identified as a chemoattractant receptor required for naïve CD4+DCIR2+ DC positioning in response to 7α,25-hydroxycholesterol (7α,25-HC). We now provide evidence that a second EBI2 ligand, 7α,27-HC, is involved in splenic DCIR2+ DC positioning and homeostasis. Cyp27a1, the enzyme uniquely required for 7α,27-HC synthesis, is expressed by stromal cells in the region of naïve DC localization. After activation, DCIR2+ DCs move into the T cell zone. We find that EBI2 is rapidly up-regulated in DCIR2+ DCs under certain activation conditions, and positioning at the B-T zone interface depends on EBI2. Under conditions of type I interferon induction, EBI2 ligand levels are elevated, causing activated DCIR2+ DCs to disperse throughout the T zone. Last, we provide evidence that oxysterol metabolism by Batf3-dependent DCs is important for EBI2-dependent positioning of activated DCIR2+DCs. This work indicates that 7α,27-HC functions as a guidance cue in vivo and reveals a multitiered role for EBI2 in DC positioning. Deficiency in this organizing system results in defective CD4+ T cell responses.