Abstract

The generation of secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) during embryonic development and the early postnatal period is orchestrated by the interaction of lymphoid-tissue inducer (LTi) cells with stromal lymphoid-tissue organizer cells. But, if the structural integrity of the SLOs is compromised later in life, for example by infection, are these interactions also responsible for restoring the lymphoid architecture in adults? Scandella et al. now show that disruption of lymphoid organization following infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is repaired by an accumulation of LTi cells during the acute phase of infection and productive crosstalk with the stromal cells of the T-cell zone, known as fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs).