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  • Generation of gut-homing IgA-secreting B cells by intestinal dendritic cells.

Generation of gut-homing IgA-secreting B cells by intestinal dendritic cells.

Science (New York, N.Y.) (2006-11-18)
J Rodrigo Mora, Makoto Iwata, Bertus Eksteen, Si-Young Song, Tobias Junt, Balimkiz Senman, Kevin L Otipoby, Aya Yokota, Hajime Takeuchi, Paola Ricciardi-Castagnoli, Klaus Rajewsky, David H Adams, Ulrich H von Andrian
PMID17110582
ABSTRACT

Normal intestinal mucosa contains abundant immunoglobulin A (IgA)-secreting cells, which are generated from B cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). We show that dendritic cells (DC) from GALT induce T cell-independent expression of IgA and gut-homing receptors on B cells. GALT-DC-derived retinoic acid (RA) alone conferred gut tropism but could not promote IgA secretion. However, RA potently synergized with GALT-DC-derived interleukin-6 (IL-6) or IL-5 to induce IgA secretion. Consequently, mice deficient in the RA precursor vitamin A lacked IgA-secreting cells in the small intestine. Thus, GALT-DC shape mucosal immunity by modulating B cell migration and effector activity through synergistically acting mediators.