The role of integrin alphaE-positive intestinal dendritic cells in inflammatory processes within the gut and their involvement in tolerance

肠道黏膜不断受到无害抗原和潜在有害病原体的侵袭。因此，局部免疫系统必须对致病菌进行有效的应答，但在暴露于共生抗原期间必须保持免疫平衡。树突状细胞（DC）最有可能参与这种双重功能。来自正常结肠黏膜的DC和来自肠系膜淋巴结的DC含有大量CD103+（整合素αEβ7） DC亚群，这是一种粘附分子，也是一些具有调节功能的T细胞的特征。在慢性肠道炎症期间，α e阳性DC从肠道中丢失。因此，我们假设αE -整合素在粘膜DC表面的表达定义了一个参与耐受诱导和维持的DC亚群。本研究旨在探讨肠道αEβ7+ DC对健康肠道免疫稳态的影响及其对慢性炎症的抑制作用。

The intestinal mucosa is continuously challenged by innocuous antigens and potentially harmful pathogens. Therefore, the local immune system has to mount an efficient answer towards pathogenic bacteria but has to keep the immunological balance during exposure to commensal antigens. Dendritic cells (DC) are most likely involved within this dual functionality. DC from normal colonic mucosa and DC from mesenterial lymph nodes contain a significant subpopulation of CD103+ (Integrin αEβ7) DC, an adhesion molecule that also characterizes some T cells with regulatory function. During chronic intestinal inflammation αE-positive DC are lost from the gut. Therefore, we hypothesize that expression of the αE - integrin on the surface of mucosal DC defines a subgroup of DC that is involved within tolerance induction and maintenance. Aim of our study is to investigate the influence of intestinal αEβ7+ DC in the immunological homeostasis within the healthy gut and their involvement in the suppression of chronic inflammation.