Differentiation of resident epidermal T cells into IL-13-producing cells in the perinatal epidermis

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09773
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: KAWAI Kazuhiro 鹿児島大学, 医歯学総合研究科, 客員研究員 (90242411)
• Research Collaborator: IBUSUKI Atsuko 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域附属病院, 助教 (10596109)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: IL-13 / CD27 / γδT細胞 / T細胞レセプター / T細胞分化 / 樹枝状表皮T細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Resident epidermal T cells of the murine skin express an invariant γδ T-cell receptor (Vγ3 TCR) that recognizes an undetermined self ligand expressed on epidermal keratinocytes, and the TCR stimulation triggers rapid production of IL-13. In contrast, their fetal thymic precursors (Vγ3 TCR+ fetal thymocytes) produce IFN-γ but not IL-13. Analyses of the cytokine production pattern by the Vγ3 TCR+ cells during development revealed that Vγ3 TCR+ cells acquire IL-13-producing capacity in the perinatal epidermis. Resident epidermal T cells in γδ T-cell-deficient mice that express diverse αβ TCRs but cannot recognize the self ligand on epidermal keratinocytes produced IFN-γ but not IL-13. Therefore, TCR-mediated signals might be involved in the differentiation of epidermal T cells into IL-13-producing cells.

Free Research Field

皮膚科学