Erythropoietin receptor on cDC1s dictates immune tolerance
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Immune tolerance is an active state of unresponsiveness of the immune system to antigens (Ags) that have the potential to induce an immune response1. Such tolerance is beneficial in avoiding autoimmunity and rejection of organ transplants, but detrimental in cancer2. Type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) are unique in their efferocytosis3 and cross-presenting abilities4, resulting in T cell-mediated immunity5 or tolerance6-10. However, the mechanisms underlying the tolerogenic function of cDC1s remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) acts as a critical switch that determines the tolerogenic state of cDC1s and the threshold of Ag-specific T cell responses. In total lymphoid irradiation-induced allograft tolerance11,12, EpoR+ cDC1s induce donor-specific CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), and conditional knockout of EpoR in cDC1s abrogates Ag-specific Treg induction, resulting in allograft rejection. In the steady state, EpoR+ migratory cDC1s control Ag-specific Treg induction in peripheral lymph nodes (LNs). In cancer, EpoR is expressed on both tumor Ag-carrying, tumor-infiltrating cDC1s, as well as migratory cDC1s in tumor-draining LNs (tdLNs). Loss of EpoR from cDC1s leads to tumor reduction by enhancing tumor Ag-specific CD8+ T cell priming and generating more precursor exhausted T cells13 in tdLNs, preserving CD8+ T cell precursor-like features and effector function, and reducing Tregs in the tumor. Thus, targeting EpoR on cDC1s to induce or inhibit immune tolerance should enable new ways to treat a variety of diseases.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE253056 | GEO | 2024/03/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA