| First Author | Messerschmidt JL | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | JCI Insight | Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 13 | PubMed ID | 37427591 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:338858 | Mgi Id | MGI:7513367 |
| Doi | 10.1172/jci.insight.160690 | Citation | Messerschmidt JL, et al. (2023) TSLP/dendritic cell axis promotes CD4+ T cell tolerance to the gut microbiome. JCI Insight 8(13) |
| abstractText | Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) overexpression is widely associated with atopy. However, TSLP is expressed in normal barrier organs, suggesting a homeostatic function. To determine the function of TSLP in barrier sites, we investigated the impact of endogenous TSLP signaling on the homeostatic expansion of CD4+ T cells in adult mice. Surprisingly, incoming CD4+ T cells induced lethal colitis in adult Rag1-knockout animals that lacked the TSLP receptor (Rag1KOTslprKO). Endogenous TSLP signaling was required for reduced CD4+ T cell proliferation, Treg differentiation, and homeostatic cytokine production. CD4+ T cell expansion in Rag1KOTslprKO mice was dependent on the gut microbiome. The lethal colitis was rescued by parabiosis between Rag1KOTslprKO and Rag1KO animals and wild-type dendritic cells (DCs) suppressed CD4+ T cell-induced colitis in Rag1KOTslprKO mice. A compromised T cell tolerance was noted in TslprKO adult colon, which was exacerbated by anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapy. These results reveal a critical peripheral tolerance axis between TSLP and DCs in the colon that blocks CD4+ T cell activation against the commensal gut microbiome. |
