Natural Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands Control Organogenesis of Intestinal Lymphoid Follicles

作者：Elina A. Kiss, Cédric Vonarbourg, Stefanie Kopfmann, Elias Hobeika, Daniela Finke, Charlotte Esser, Andreas Diefenbach · 发表于：Science · 年份：2011 · DOI：10.1126/science.1214914 · 被引用次数：790 · 研究领域：IL-33, ST2, and ILC Pathways、Immune Cell Function and Interaction、Digestive system and related health

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) expressing the transcription factor RORγt induce the postnatal formation of intestinal lymphoid follicles and regulate intestinal homeostasis. RORγt(+) ILC express the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a highly conserved, ligand-inducible transcription factor believed to control adaptation of multicellular organisms to environmental challenges. We show that AhR is required for the postnatal expansion of intestinal RORγt(+) ILC and the formation of intestinal lymphoid follicles. AhR activity within RORγt(+) ILC could be induced by dietary ligands such as those contained in vegetables of the family Brassicaceae. AhR-deficient mice were highly susceptible to infection with Citrobacter rodentium, a mouse model for attaching and effacing infections. Our results establish a molecular link between nutrients and the formation of immune system components required to maintain intestinal homeostasis and resistance to infections.