The spleen is an organ that filters the blood and is responsible for generating blood-borne immune responses. It is also an organ with a remarkable capacity to regenerate. Techniques for splenic auto-transplantation have emerged to take advantage of this characteristic and rebuild spleen tissue in individuals undergoing splenectomy. While this procedure has been performed for decades, the underlying mechanisms controlling spleen regeneration have remained elusive. Insights into secondary lymphoid organogenesis and the roles of stromal organiser cells and lymphotoxin signalling in lymph node development have helped reveal similar requirements for spleen regeneration. These factors are now considered in the regulation of embryonic and postnatal spleen formation, and in the establishment of mature white pulp and marginal zone compartments which are essential for spleen-mediated immunity. A greater understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms which control spleen development will assist in the design of more precise and efficient tissue grafting methods for spleen regeneration on demand. Regeneration of organs which harbour functional white pulp tissue will also offer novel opportunities for effective immunotherapy against cancer as well as infectious diseases.

脾脏是过滤血液的器官，负责产生血液传播的免疫反应。它也是具有显着再生能力的器官。脾脏自体移植的技术已经出现，以利用这一特征并在接受脾切除术的个体中重建脾脏组织。尽管该程序已经执行了数十年，但控制脾脏再生的潜在机制仍然难以捉摸。对继发性淋巴器官发生以及间质组织细胞和淋巴毒素信号在淋巴结发育中的作用的见解有助于揭示对脾脏再生的类似要求。现在在调节胚胎和产后脾脏形成中考虑了这些因素，在建立成熟的白色纸浆和边缘区隔室时，这些区隔对于脾脏介导的免疫力是必不可少的。对控制脾脏发育的细胞和分子机制的更深入了解将有助于设计更精确和有效的组织移植方法，以按需进行脾脏再生。带有功能性白髓组织的器官的再生也将为针对癌症和传染病的有效免疫疗法提供新的机会。