article published yes Frank P Assen author 3A8E7F24-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0003-3470-6119 Jun Abe author Miroslav Hons author 4167FE56-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-6625-3348 Robert Hauschild author 4E01D6B4-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0001-9843-3522 Shayan Shamipour author 40B34FE2-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87 Walter Kaufmann author 3F99E422-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0001-9735-5315 Tommaso Costanzo author D93824F4-D9BA-11E9-BB12-F207E66974250000-0001-9732-3815 Gabriel Krens author 2B819732-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0003-4761-5996 Markus Brown author 3DAB9AFC-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87 Burkhard Ludewig author Simon Hippenmeyer author 37B36620-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0003-2279-1061 Carl-Philipp J Heisenberg author 39427864-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-0912-4566 Wolfgang Weninger author Edouard B Hannezo author 3A9DB764-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0001-6005-1561 Sanjiv A. Luther author Jens V. Stein author Michael K Sixt author 41E9FBEA-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-4561-241X SiHi department CaHe department EdHa department EM-Fac department Bio department MiSi department Cellular Navigation Along Spatial Gradients project Lymph nodes (LNs) comprise two main structural elements: fibroblastic reticular cells that form dedicated niches for immune cell interaction and capsular fibroblasts that build a shell around the organ. Immunological challenge causes LNs to increase more than tenfold in size within a few days. Here, we characterized the biomechanics of LN swelling on the cellular and organ scale. We identified lymphocyte trapping by influx and proliferation as drivers of an outward pressure force, causing fibroblastic reticular cells of the T-zone (TRCs) and their associated conduits to stretch. After an initial phase of relaxation, TRCs sensed the resulting strain through cell matrix adhesions, which coordinated local growth and remodeling of the stromal network. While the expanded TRC network readopted its typical configuration, a massive fibrotic reaction of the organ capsule set in and countered further organ expansion. Thus, different fibroblast populations mechanically control LN swelling in a multitier fashion. https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/9794/11642/2022_NatureImmunology_Assen.pdf application/pdfno Springer Nature2022 eng 1529-2908 1529-2916 35817845 00082297590000210.1038/s41590-022-01257-4 231246-1255 F.P. Assen, J. Abe, M. Hons, R. Hauschild, S. Shamipour, W. Kaufmann, T. Costanzo, G. Krens, M. Brown, B. Ludewig, S. Hippenmeyer, C.-P.J. Heisenberg, W. Weninger, E.B. Hannezo, S.A. Luther, J.V. Stein, M.K. Sixt, Nature Immunology 23 (2022) 1246–1255. Assen FP, Abe J, Hons M, et al. Multitier mechanics control stromal adaptations in swelling lymph nodes. <i>Nature Immunology</i>. 2022;23:1246-1255. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4">10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4</a> Assen FP, Abe J, Hons M, Hauschild R, Shamipour S, Kaufmann W, Costanzo T, Krens G, Brown M, Ludewig B, Hippenmeyer S, Heisenberg C-PJ, Weninger W, Hannezo EB, Luther SA, Stein JV, Sixt MK. 2022. Multitier mechanics control stromal adaptations in swelling lymph nodes. Nature Immunology. 23, 1246–1255. F. P. Assen <i>et al.</i>, “Multitier mechanics control stromal adaptations in swelling lymph nodes,” <i>Nature Immunology</i>, vol. 23. Springer Nature, pp. 1246–1255, 2022. Assen, Frank P., et al. “Multitier Mechanics Control Stromal Adaptations in Swelling Lymph Nodes.” <i>Nature Immunology</i>, vol. 23, Springer Nature, 2022, pp. 1246–55, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4">10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4</a>. Assen, Frank P, Jun Abe, Miroslav Hons, Robert Hauschild, Shayan Shamipour, Walter Kaufmann, Tommaso Costanzo, et al. “Multitier Mechanics Control Stromal Adaptations in Swelling Lymph Nodes.” <i>Nature Immunology</i>. Springer Nature, 2022. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4</a>. Assen, F. P., Abe, J., Hons, M., Hauschild, R., Shamipour, S., Kaufmann, W., … Sixt, M. K. (2022). Multitier mechanics control stromal adaptations in swelling lymph nodes. <i>Nature Immunology</i>. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01257-4</a> 97942021-08-06T09:09:11Z2025-06-11T13:52:43Z