Embryonic macrophages function during early life to determine invariant natural killer T cell levels at barrier surfaces

Nat Immunol. 2021 Jun;22(6):699-710. doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-00934-0. Epub 2021 May 26.

Abstract

It is increasingly recognized that immune development within mucosal tissues is under the control of environmental factors during early life. However, the cellular mechanisms that underlie such temporally and regionally restrictive governance of these processes are unclear. Here, we uncover an extrathymic pathway of immune development within the colon that is controlled by embryonic but not bone marrow-derived macrophages, which determines the ability of these organs to receive invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and allow them to establish local residency. Consequently, early-life perturbations of fetal-derived macrophages result in persistent decreases of mucosal iNKT cells and is associated with later-life susceptibility or resistance to iNKT cell-associated mucosal disorders. These studies uncover a host developmental program orchestrated by ontogenically distinct macrophages that is regulated by microbiota, and they reveal an important postnatal function of macrophages that emerge in fetal life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology*
  • Colitis / microbiology
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colon / cytology
  • Colon / embryology
  • Colon / immunology
  • Colon / pathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diphtheria Toxin / administration & dosage
  • Diphtheria Toxin / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / immunology
  • Germ-Free Life
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / embryology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Listeriosis / immunology*
  • Listeriosis / microbiology
  • Listeriosis / pathology
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / immunology*
  • RNA-Seq
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Diphtheria Toxin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Plvap protein, mouse