Human Epidermal Langerhans Cells Maintain Immune Homeostasis in Skin by Activating Skin Resident Regulatory T Cells

Recent studies have demonstrated that the skin of a normal adult human contains 10–20 billion resident memory T cells, including various helper, cytotoxic, and regulatory T cell subsets, that are poised to respond to environmental antigens. Using only autologous human tissues, we report that both in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunity (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2012-05, Vol.36 (5), p.873-884
Main Authors: Seneschal, Julien, Clark, Rachael A., Gehad, Ahmed, Baecher-Allan, Clare M., Kupper, Thomas S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigens - immunology
Cell activation
Cell Growth Processes - immunology
Cell proliferation
Cytotoxicity
Epidermis - immunology
Experiments
Homeostasis
Homeostasis - immunology
Humans
Immunologic Memory - immunology
Immunological memory
Immunological tolerance
Immunoregulation
Langerhans cells
Langerhans Cells - immunology
Lymphocyte Activation - immunology
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes T
Memory cells
Pathogens
Skin
Skin - cytology
Skin - immunology
Studies
T cell receptors
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology
Wound healing
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Summary:Recent studies have demonstrated that the skin of a normal adult human contains 10–20 billion resident memory T cells, including various helper, cytotoxic, and regulatory T cell subsets, that are poised to respond to environmental antigens. Using only autologous human tissues, we report that both in vitro and in vivo, resting epidermal Langerhan cells (LCs) selectively and specifically induced the activation and proliferation of skin resident regulatory T (Treg) cells, a minor subset of skin resident memory T cells. In the presence of foreign pathogen, however, the same LCs activated and induced proliferation of effector memory T (Tem) cells and limited Treg cells' activation. These underappreciated properties of LCs, namely maintenance of tolerance in normal skin, and activation of protective skin resident memory T cells upon infectious challenge, help clarify the role of LCs in skin. [Display omitted] ► Langerhans cells (LCs) directly interact with skin resident memory T cells ► LCs induce activation and proliferation of skin resident Treg cells at steady state ► LCs control the proliferation of skin-resident effector memory T cells at steady state ► During infection, LC induce the proliferation of skin resident effector memory T cells
ISSN:1074-7613
1097-4180
DOI:10.1016/j.immuni.2012.03.018