Expanded ILC2s in human infant intestines promote tissue growth

Kimberly J. Möller, Lucy H. M. Wegner, Jakob Malsy, Martin E. Baumdick, Malte Borggrewe, Ana Jordan-Paiz, Johannes M. Jung, Glòria Martrus, Paul Kretschmer, Adrian F. Sagebiel, Renée R. C. E. Schreurs, Sven H. Hagen, Gunter Burmester, Till S. Clauditz, Steven T. Pals, Michael Boettcher, Nathaniel Melling, Guido Sauter, Christian Tomuschat, Ingo KönigsUdo Schumacher, Marcus Altfeld, Jochem H. Bernink, Daniel Perez, Konard Reinshagen, Madeleine J. Bunders

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Early life is characterized by extraordinary challenges, including rapid tissue growth and immune adaptation to foreign antigens after birth. During this developmental stage, infants have an increased risk of immune-mediated diseases. Here, we demonstrate that tissue-resident, interleukin (IL)-13- and IL-4-producing group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are enriched in human infant intestines compared to adult intestines. Organoid systems were employed to assess the role of infant intestinal ILC2s in intestinal development and showed that IL-13 and IL-4 increased epithelial cell proliferation and skewed cell differentiation toward secretory cells. IL-13 furthermore upregulated the production of mediators of type-2 immunity by infant intestinal epithelial cells, including vascular endothelial growth factor-A and IL-26, a chemoattractant for eosinophils. In line with these in vitro findings increased numbers of eosinophils were detected in vivo in infant intestines. Taken together, ILC2s are enriched in infant intestines and can support intestinal development while inducing an epithelial secretory response associated with type 2 immune-mediated diseases.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)408-421
Number of pages14
JournalMucosal Immunology
Volume16
Issue number4
Early online date2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

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