Publications | Microbiota promote enhanced CD39 expression in γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes through the activation of TCR and IL-15 signaling

Intraepithelial lymphocytes expressing the γδ T cell receptor (γδ IEL) provide continuous surveillance of the intestinal epithelium. We report that mice harboring a microbiota-specific hyperproliferative γδ IEL (γδHYP) phenotype also upregulate the expression of the ectonucleotidase CD39, a marker of regulatory γδ T cells. Enhanced TCR and IL-15 signaling correlates with a progression from a naïve-like CD39neg γδ IEL to a more mature, tissue-adapted CD39hi IEL population. We found that TCR γδ activation drives CD122-mediated CD39 upregulation on γδHYP IELs and increased mucosal IL-15 further amplifies CD39 expression in these cells. Further investigation revealed that CD39 induction requires sustained exposure to the γδHYP-associated microbiota. Moreover, CD39hi γδ IELs exhibit a reduced capacity to produce pro-inflammatory cytokine, which may explain the lack of histopathology in γδHYP mice. Overall, our study identifies a previously unappreciated mechanism by which an altered microbiota amplifies CD39 expression on γδHYP IELs, leading to the expansion of γδ IELs with regulatory potential.

Principal Investigator(s):

Author(s):
Alonso, S., Kaur, H., Jia, L., Nguyen, M.-U., Laguerta, A., Fong, A., Skariah, N., Argüello, R. J., Verzi, M. P., Swamy, M., Lau, K. S., & Edelblum, K. L

PubMed:
40683453
Citation:
Alonso, S., Kaur, H., Jia, L., Nguyen, M.-U., Laguerta, A., Fong, A., Skariah, N., Argüello, R. J., Verzi, M. P., Swamy, M., Lau, K. S., & Edelblum, K. L
Mucosal Immunology
2025
Oct
18
1184-1198
doi:
10.1016/j.mucimm.2025.07.005
PMID: 40683453