A model of preferential pairing between epithelial and dendritic cells in thymic antigen transfer

0555977 - ÚMG 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Vobořil, Matouš - Březina, Jiří - Brabec, Tomáš - Dobeš, Jan - Ballek, Ondřej - Dobešová, Martina - Manning, Jasper - Blumberg, R.S. - Filipp, Dominik
A model of preferential pairing between epithelial and dendritic cells in thymic antigen transfer.
eLife. Roč. 11, January (2022), č. článku e71578. ISSN 2050-084X. E-ISSN 2050-084X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA20-30350S
Institutional support: RVO:68378050
Keywords : thymus * central tolerance * thymic epithelial cells * dendritic cells * cooperative antigen transfer * Mouse
OECD category: Biology (theoretical, mathematical, thermal, cryobiology, biological rhythm), Evolutionary biology
Impact factor: 7.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://elifesciences.org/articles/71578

Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), which produce and present self-antigens, are essential for the establishment of central tolerance. Since mTEC numbers are limited, their function is complemented by thymic dendritic cells (DCs), which transfer mTEC-produced self-antigens via cooperative antigen transfer (CAT). While CAT is required for effective T cell selection, many aspects remain enigmatic. Given the recently described heterogeneity of mTECs and DCs, it is unclear whether the antigen acquisition from a particular TEC subset is mediated by preferential pairing with a specific subset of DCs. Using several relevant Cre-based mouse models that control for the expression of fluorescent proteins, we have found that, in regards to CAT, each subset of thymic DCs preferentially targets a distinct mTEC subset(s). Importantly, XCR1(+)-activated DC subset represented the most potent subset in CAT. Interestingly, thymic DCs can also acquire antigens from more than one mTEC, and of these, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) were determined to be the most efficient. moDCs also represented the most potent DC subset in the acquisition of antigen from other DCs. These findings suggest a preferential pairing model for the distribution of mTEC-derived antigens among distinct populations of thymic DCs.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0331733