Aire-expressing lymph node cells
Final Report Abstract
The Autoimmune Regulator (Aire) serves an essential function for T cell tolerance by promoting the ‘promiscuous’ expression of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). Aire is also detected in rare cells in peripheral lymphoid organs, but the identity of these Aire-expressing cells is poorly understood. Here, we aimed to clarify the identity of Aire expressing cells in lymph nodes and to characterize their functional properties. We found that expression of Aire protein in lymph nodes was exclusively confined to cells with typical innate lymphoid cell (ILC) characteristics. These cells expressed and depended upon RORγt, indicating that they represent a novel subset of group 3 ILCs. Aire expression in ILC3s is independent of cross-talk with adaptive immune cells and requires RANK signalling. Aire+ ILC3s display a unique Aire-dependent transcriptional signature, express high surface levels of MHCII and co-stimulatory molecules and efficiently present an endogenously expressed antigen to CD4+ T-cells. These findings define a novel subset of group 3 ILCs with potent APC features, suggesting that these cells serve a function in the control of T cell responses.
Publications
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(2019) Aire-expressing ILC3-like cells in the lymph node display potent APC features. The Journal of experimental medicine 216 (5) 1027–1037
Yamano, Tomoyoshi; Dobeš, Jan; Vobořil, Matouš; Steinert, Madlen; Brabec, Tomáš; Ziętara, Natalia; Dobešová, Martina; Ohnmacht, Caspar; Laan, Martti; Peterson, Part; Benes, Vladimir; Sedláček, Radislav; Hanayama, Rikinari; Kolář, Michal; Klein, Ludger; Fi
