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The molecular and phenotypic makeup of fetal human skin T lymphocytes

The adult human skin contains a vast number of T cells that are essential for skin homeostasis and pathogen defense. T cells are first observed in the skin at the early stages of gestation; however, our understanding of their contribution to early immunity has been limited by their low abundance and...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Reitermaier, René, Ayub, Tanya, Staller, Julia, Kienzl, Philip, Fortelny, Nikolaus, Vieyra-Garcia, Pablo Augusto, Worda, Christof, Fiala, Christian, Staud, Clement, Eppel, Wolfgang, Scharrer, Anke, Krausgruber, Thomas, Elbe-Bürger, Adelheid
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Company of Biologists Ltd 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8601710/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34604909
http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/dev.199781
Descripción
Sumario:The adult human skin contains a vast number of T cells that are essential for skin homeostasis and pathogen defense. T cells are first observed in the skin at the early stages of gestation; however, our understanding of their contribution to early immunity has been limited by their low abundance and lack of comprehensive methodologies for their assessment. Here, we describe a new workflow for isolating and expanding significant amounts of T cells from fetal human skin. Using multiparametric flow cytometry and in situ immunofluorescence, we found a large population with a naive phenotype and small populations with a memory and regulatory phenotype. Their molecular state was characterized using single-cell transcriptomics and TCR repertoire profiling. Importantly, culture of total fetal skin biopsies facilitated T cell expansion without a substantial impact on their phenotype, a major prerequisite for subsequent functional assays. Collectively, our experimental approaches and data advance the understanding of fetal skin immunity and potential use in future therapeutic interventions.