Work

Selective AhR knockout in langerin-expressing cells abates Langerhans cells and polarizes Th2/Tr1 in epicutaneous protein sensitization

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Significance AhR, which is expressed in many epithelial, mucosal, and immune cells, represents a vital cellular sensor of environmental factors. Immune regulation by AhR can be cell, tissue, and ligand specific. Langerhans cells (LC), professional antigen presenting cells in the epidermis, govern the immunological barrier against environmental threats. How the AhR in LC regulates epicutaneous immune responses remains unclear. Experimenting with Langerin-specific AhR −/− mice, we discovered that AhR-deficient epidermal LC were reduced in number and, following epicutaneous protein (Ova) immunization, promoted T helper type-2 (Th2) and T regulatory type-1 (Tr1) responses, leading to increased Ova-specific IgE in the blood. Thus, AhR represents a critical sensor regulating LC activation and LC-mediated T cell polarization.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917479117

Authors: Chien-Hui Hong, Shang-Hung Lin, Björn E. Clausen, Chih-Hung Lee