| First Author | Korn LL | Year | 2014 |
| Journal | Cell Rep | Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 1567-73 |
| PubMed ID | 25482559 | Mgi Jnum | J:222661 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5645187 | Doi | 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.11.006 |
| Citation | Korn LL, et al. (2014) Regulatory T cells occupy an isolated niche in the intestine that is antigen independent. Cell Rep 9(5):1567-73 |
| abstractText | Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are CD4(+) T cells that maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. Like all CD4(+) T cells, Tregs require antigen-specific signals via T cell receptor-major histocompatibility complex class II (TCR-MHCII) interactions for their development. However, the requirement for MHCII in Treg homeostasis in tissues such as intestinal lamina propria (LP) is unknown. We examined LP Treg homeostasis in a transgenic mouse model that lacks peripheral TCR-MHCII interactions and generation of extrathymic Tregs (iTregs). Thymically generated Tregs entered the LP of weanlings and proliferated independently of MHCII to fill the compartment. The adult LP was a closed niche; new thymic Tregs were excluded, and Tregs in parabiotic pairs were LP resident. The isolated LP niche was interleukin-2 (IL-2) independent but dependent on commensal bacteria. Thus, an LP Treg niche can be filled, isolated, and maintained independently of antigen signals and iTregs. This niche may represent a tissue-specific mechanism for maintaining immune tolerance. |
