The intestinal cell types responsible for defense against pathogenic organisms remain incompletely characterized. Here we identify a subset of CD11c^hiCD11b^hi lamina propria dendritic cells (LPDCs) that expressed Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) in the small intestine. When stimulated by the TLR5 ligand flagellin, TLR5+ LPDCs induced the differentiation of naive B cells into immunoglobulin A–producing plasma cells by a mechanism independent of gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

In addition, by a mechanism dependent on TLR5 stimulation, these LPDCs promoted the differentiation of antigen-specific interleukin 17–producing T helper cells and type 1 T helper cells. Unlike spleen DCs, the LPDCs specifically produced retinoic acid, which, in a dose-dependent way, supported the generation and retention of immunoglobulin A–producing cells in the lamina propria and positively regulated the differentiation interleukin 17–producing T helper cells.

Our findings demonstrate unique properties of LPDCs and the importance of TLR5 for adaptive immunity in the intestine.

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Director: WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University
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Assistant Professor: Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University
Assistant Professor: Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University
3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Tel: +81-6-6879-8301　Fax: +81-6-6879-8301
E-mail: uemattsu@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp