Reticular cell

As reticulum cells (of lat. Reticulum for "small network" and cella , cellula "small room") are different types of cells of the reticular connective tissue , respectively. A distinction is made here between fibroblastic, histiocytic and dendritic reticular cells.

Fibroblastic reticular cells are of mesenchymal origin and are the actual tissue-specific cells of the reticular connective tissue. They occur as tissue-related cells in all facilities and organs in which reticular connective tissue forms the basic structure. Its cell body , which is only weakly stained, has structurally and functionally significant processes through which neighboring reticular cells are connected. This creates a wide-meshed, three-dimensional cell structure in the form of an extensive intercellular meshwork. Fibroblastic reticulum cells have an oval, relatively large and bright ( heterochromatin- poor) cell nucleus , which differs significantly from the intensely basophilic cell nuclei of the lymphocytes that are often in close proximity . In addition to the fiber formation already indicated in the name ( fibroblastic means fiber-forming ), fibroblastic reticulum cells also synthesize large amounts of basic substance .

The histiocytic reticular cells move amoeboid and are actually phagocytic macrophages that have arisen from monocytes . They can contain phagocytosed material in their cytoplasm . Histiocytic reticular cells are similar to fibroblastic cells, but, in contrast to these, have shorter and more compact pseudopodia-like cell processes, do not form any cell contacts and also do not contribute to the formation of the intercellular substance.

Dendritic reticular cells are antigen-presenting cells . As interdigitating dendritic reticulum cells (IDC) they can activate T cells in the paracortex of the lymph nodes, and B lymphocytes as follicular dendritic reticulum cells in the germinal center of the lymph nodes .

Since the different cell types, which can appear as reticular cells, do not form a homogeneous group, the further use of the term is sometimes not recommended.