Th17 cell induction in mouse lamina propria by extracellular ATP

Abstract

Th17 cells constitute a subset of T-helper cells involved in host defense and several immune disorders. An intriguing feature of Th17 cells is their selective and constitutive presence in the intestinal lamina propria. Germ-free mice exhibit much lower concentrations of luminal ATP, accompanied by fewer lamina propria Th17 cells, compared to specificpathogen-free mice. Systemic administration of ATP into these germ-free mice results in a marked increase in the number of lamina propria Th17 cells. A CD70⁺CD11c^int cell, which is a unique subset in the lamina propria, leads to the differentiation of Th17 cells. A CD70⁺CD11c^int subset of the lamina propria cells expresses Il-6, Il23a and Itgav, in response to ATP stimulation, and preferentially induces Th17 differentiation of co-cultured naive T cells. Now we try to identify intestinal antigen presenting cells in human lamina propria which induce Th17 differentiation.