Epithelia Use Butyrophilin-like Molecules to Shape Organ-Specific γδ T Cell Compartments.

ABSTRACT: Many body surfaces harbor organ-specific γδ T cell compartments that contribute to tissue integrity. Thus, murine dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) uniquely expressing T cell receptor (TCR)-Vγ5 chains protect from cutaneous carcinogens. The DETC repertoire is shaped by Skint1, a butyrophilin-like (Btnl) gene expressed specifically by thymic epithelial cells and suprabasal keratinocytes. However, the generality of this mechanism has remained opaque, since neither Skint1 nor DETCs are evolutionarily conserved. Here, Btnl1 expressed by murine enterocytes is shown to shape the local TCR-Vγ7(+) γδ compartment. Uninfluenced by microbial or food antigens, this activity evokes the developmental selection of TCRαβ(+) repertoires. Indeed, Btnl1 and Btnl6 jointly induce TCR-dependent responses spec

SUBMITTER: Di Marco Barros R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5037318 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature