Gut intraepithelial T cells calibrate metabolism and accelerate cardiovascular disease.

ABSTRACT: The biochemical response to food intake must be precisely regulated. Because ingested sugars and fats can feed into many anabolic and catabolic pathways¹, how our bodies handle nutrients depends on strategically positioned metabolic sensors that link the intrinsic nutritional value of a meal with intermediary metabolism. Here we describe a subset of immune cells-integrin β7⁺ natural gut intraepithelial T lymphocytes (natural IELs)-that is dispersed throughout the enterocyte layer of the small intestine and that modulates systemic metabolism. Integrin β7^- mice that lack natural IELs are metabolically hyperactive and, when fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet, are resistant to obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Furthermo

SUBMITTER: He S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6367023 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature