Active suppression of intestinal CD4(+)TCRαβ(+) T-lymphocyte maturation during the postnatal period
Torow N, Yu K, Hassani K, Freitag J, Schulz O, Basic M, Brennecke A, Sparwasser T, Wagner N, Bleich A, Lochner M, Weiss S, Förster R, Pabst O, Hornef M
Published in
Nature communications: Volume 6, Page 7725
Abstract
Priming of the mucosal immune system during the postnatal period substantially influences host-microbial interaction and susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases in adult life. The underlying mechanisms are ill defined. Here we show that shortly after birth, CD4 T cells populate preformed lymphoid structures in the small intestine and quickly acquire a distinct transcriptional profile. T-cell recruitment is independent of microbial colonization and innate or adaptive immune stimulation but requires β7 integrin expression. Surprisingly, neonatal CD4 T cells remain immature throughout the postnatal period under homeostatic conditions but undergo maturation and gain effector function on barrier disruption. Maternal SIgA and regulatory T cells act in concert to prevent immune stimulation and maintain the immature phenotype of CD4 T cells in the postnatal intestine during homeostasis. Active suppression of CD4 T-cell maturation during the postnatal period might contribute to prevent auto-reactivity, sustain a broad TCR repertoire and establish life-long immune homeostasis.
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