Developmentally programmed early-age skin localization of iNKT cells supports local tissue development and homeostasis
Journal
Nature Immunology
Journal Volume
24
Journal Issue
2
Start Page
225
End Page
238
ISSN
15292908
Date Issued
2023-01-09
Author(s)
Abstract
Skin is exposed to various environmental assaults and undergoes morphological changes immediately after birth. Proper localization and function of immune cells in the skin is crucial for protection and establishment of skin tissue homeostasis. Here we report the discovery of a developmentally programmed process that directs preferential localization of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells to the skin for early local homeostatic regulation. We show that iNKT cells are programmed predominantly with a CCR10+ skin-homing phenotype during thymic development in infant and young mice. Early skin localization of iNKT cells is critical for proper commensal bacterial colonization and tissue development. Mechanistically, skin iNKT cells provide a local source of transferrin that regulates iron metabolism in hair follicle progenitor cells and helps hair follicle development. These findings provide molecular insights into the establishment and physiological functions of iNKT cells in the skin during early life. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.
SDGs
Publisher
Nature Research
Type
journal article