Active suppression of intestinal CD4(+)TCRαβ(+) T-lymphocyte maturation during the postnatal period.

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

SUBMITTER: Torow N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4518322 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature