Essential functions of Runx/Cbfß in gut conventional dendritic cells for priming Rorγt+ T cells.

ABSTRACT

Acquired immune responses are initiated by activation of CD4+ helper T (Th) cells via recognition of antigens presented by conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). DCs instruct Th-cell polarization program into specific effector Th subset, which will dictate the type of immune responses. Hence, it is important to unravel how differentiation and/or activation of DC are linked with Th-cell-intrinsic mechanism that directs differentiation toward a specific effector Th subset. Here, we show that loss of Runx/Cbfß transcription factors complexes during DC development leads to loss of CD103+CD11b+ cDC2s and alters characteristics of CD103-CD11b+ cDCs in the intestine, which was accompanied with impaired differentiation of Rorγt+ Th17 cells and type 3 Rorγt+ regulatory T cells. We also show that a Runx-binding enhancer in the Rorc gene is essential for T cells to integrate cDC-derived signals to induce Rorγt expression. These findings reveal that Runx/Cbfß complexes play crucial and complementary roles in cDCs and Th cells to shape converging type 3 immune responses.