| First Author | Bajana S | Year | 2022 |
| Journal | iScience | Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 103732 |
| PubMed ID | 35118353 | Mgi Jnum | J:328718 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6870392 | Doi | 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103732 |
| Citation | Bajana S, et al. (2022) Correlation between circulating innate lymphoid cell precursors and thymic function. iScience 25(2):103732 |
| abstractText | The thymus has a high capacity to support the differentiation of ILCs, especially when E protein transcription factors are ablated. Whether it contributes to the homeostasis of ILC pools in tissues is not clear. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis shows a substantial amount of ILC precursors in wild type but not athymic nude blood. The precursors express CD3 intracellularly (ic) but not on the surface. The abundance of Lin(-)CD127(+)CD62L(+)icCD3epsilon(+) precursors varies with age, peaking at 2-3 months. These cells can differentiate into various ILC subsets on OP9-DL1 stroma in vitro. In the lung, small intestine, and epidermis, icCD3epsilon(+) cells differentiate into diverse ILC subsets in different tissue environments in steady state. Helminth infection promotes their differentiation toward functional ILC2s. Thus, the thymus appears to play a role in replenishing ILC pools in different peripheral tissues. Because thymic activity is age-dependent, this finding may help explain age-related differences in immune responses. |
