The human liver microenvironment shapes the homing and function of CD4+ T-cell populations.
Gut
; 71(7): 1399-1411, 2022 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34548339
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are vital immune sentinels that provide protective immunity. While hepatic CD8+ TRM have been well described, little is known about the location, phenotype and function of CD4+ TRM.DESIGN:
We used multiparametric flow cytometry, histological assessment and novel human tissue coculture systems to interrogate the ex vivo phenotype, function and generation of the intrahepatic CD4+ T-cell compartment. We also used leukocytes isolated from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-disparate liver allografts to assess long-term retention.RESULTS:
Hepatic CD4+ T cells were delineated into three distinct populations based on CD69 expression CD69-, CD69INT and CD69HI. CD69HICD4+ cells were identified as tissue-resident CD4+ T cells on the basis of their exclusion from the circulation, phenotypical profile (CXCR6+CD49a+S1PR1-PD-1+) and long-term persistence within the pool of donor-derived leukcoocytes in HLA-disparate liver allografts. CD69HICD4+ T cells produced robust type 1 polyfunctional cytokine responses on stimulation. Conversely, CD69INTCD4+ T cells represented a more heterogenous population containing cells with a more activated phenotype, a distinct chemokine receptor profile (CX3CR1+CXCR3+CXCR1+) and a bias towards interleukin-4 production. While CD69INTCD4+ T cells could be found in the circulation and lymph nodes, these cells also formed part of the long-term resident pool, persisting in HLA-mismatched allografts. Notably, frequencies of CD69INTCD4+ T cells correlated with necroinflammatory scores in chronic hepatitis B infection. Finally, we demonstrated that interaction with hepatic epithelia was sufficient to generate CD69INTCD4+ T cells, while additional signals from the liver microenvironment were required to generate liver-resident CD69HICD4+ T cells.CONCLUSIONS:
High and intermediate CD69 expressions mark human hepatic CD4+ TRM and a novel functionally distinct recirculating population, respectively, both shaped by the liver microenvironment to achieve diverse immunosurveillance.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos
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Hígado
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Gut
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido