Discovering the fibroblastic reticular cell in the immune tumor microenvironment in lymphoma

The study of the cellular and molecular microenvironment in B cell lymphoma, especially diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), has led to prognostic and therapeutic algorithms that may improve patient outcomes. Emerging gene signature panels provide a granular understanding of DLBCL based on the immune tumor microenvironment (iTME). In addition, some gene signatures identify lymphomas that are more responsive to immune-based treatment, indicating that the iTME has a biological signature that could affect outcomes when targeted. In this issue of the JCI, Apollonio et al. report on fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) as potential targets in aggressive lymphoma. FRCs interacted with lymphoma cells and induced a state of chronic inflammation that suppressed immune function by impeding optimal T cell migration and inhibiting CD8(+) T cell lytic function. These findings suggest that manipulating the iTME by directly targeting FRCs may enhance responses to immunotherapy in DLBCL.