Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Oya, Yuki
• Kimura, Shunsuke
• Nakamura, Yutaka
• Ishihara, Narumi
• Takano, Shunsuke
• Morita, Ryo
• Endo, Mayumi
• Hase, Koji

Titel

Characterization of M Cells in Tear Duct-Associated Lymphoid Tissue of Mice: A Potential Role in Immunosurveillance on the Ocular Surface

Ist Teil von

• Frontiers in immunology, 2021-11, Vol.12, p.779709-779709

Ort / Verlag

Switzerland: Frontiers Media S.A

Erscheinungsjahr

2021

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The ocular mucosal tissues are exposed to potentially harmful foreign antigens in the air and tear fluid. The tear duct-associated lymphoid tissue (TALT) may contribute to immune surveillance in the eye region. Follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of TALTs is classified as stratified squamous epithelium and consists of squamous epithelial cells arranged in layers on the basement membrane. In contrast, most mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue is covered by a monolayer of epithelium containing microfold (M) cells. Therefore, antigen uptake and the presence of M cells in TALT are not fully understood. The present study found that a small population of FAE cells in the TALT expressed intestinal M-cell markers, namely Sox8, Tnfaip2, GP2, and OPG. This cell population was identified as functional M cells because of their uptake capacity of luminal nanoparticles. In addition, RANKL, which is essential for M-cell differentiation, was expressed by stroma-like cells at the subepithelial region and its receptor RANK by the FAE in the TALT. The administration of RANKL markedly increased the number of Sox8 M cells. In contrast, deficiency in OPG, an endogenous inhibitor of RANKL, increased the number of M cells in the TALT. These data demonstrate that the RANKL-RANK axis is essential for M-cell differentiation in the TALT. Furthermore, immunization eye drops elicited the production of antigen-specific antibodies in tears, which was enhanced by RANKL administration. Thus, TALT M cells play an important role in the immunosurveillance of the eye region.