» Articles » PMID: 32160523

Immune Profiling of Human Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Identifies a Role for Isolated Lymphoid Follicles in Priming of Region-Specific Immunity

Abstract

The intestine contains some of the most diverse and complex immune compartments in the body. Here we describe a method for isolating human gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) that allows unprecedented profiling of the adaptive immune system in submucosal and mucosal isolated lymphoid follicles (SM-ILFs and M-ILFs, respectively) as well as in GALT-free intestinal lamina propria (LP). SM-ILF and M-ILF showed distinct patterns of distribution along the length of the intestine, were linked to the systemic circulation through MAdCAM-1 high endothelial venules and efferent lymphatics, and had immune profiles consistent with immune-inductive sites. IgA sequencing analysis indicated that human ILFs are sites where intestinal adaptive immune responses are initiated in an anatomically restricted manner. Our findings position ILFs as key inductive hubs for regional immunity in the human intestine, and the methods presented will allow future assessment of these compartments in health and disease.

Citing Articles

Mechanobiological Approach for Intestinal Mucosal Immunology.

Kim H, Lee S, Yang J Biology (Basel). 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 40001878 PMC: 11852114. DOI: 10.3390/biology14020110.


A novel approach to digital characterisation of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures in colorectal cancer.

Munoz-Erazo L, Park S, Lin S, Chen C, Zhou L, Rhodes J Front Immunol. 2025; 16:1500792.

PMID: 39958353 PMC: 11827424. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1500792.


Immune profiling of the macroenvironment in colorectal cancer unveils systemic dysfunction and plasticity of immune cells.

Ke H, Li P, Li Z, Zeng X, Zhang C, Luo S Clin Transl Med. 2025; 15(2):e70175.

PMID: 39934971 PMC: 11813809. DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.70175.


Guidelines for preparation and flow cytometry analysis of human nonlymphoid tissue DC.

Dudziak D, Heger L, Agace W, Bakker J, de Gruijl T, Dress R Eur J Immunol. 2024; 55(1):e2250325.

PMID: 39668411 PMC: 11739683. DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250325.


Spatial profiling of the mouse colonic immune landscape associated with colitis and sex.

Holm M, Stepanauskaite L, Backstrom A, Birgersson M, Socciarelli F, Archer A Commun Biol. 2024; 7(1):1595.

PMID: 39613949 PMC: 11606951. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-07276-1.


References
1.
Fujimura Y, Hosobe M, Kihara T . Ultrastructural study of M cells from colonic lymphoid nodules obtained by colonoscopic biopsy. Dig Dis Sci. 1992; 37(7):1089-98. DOI: 10.1007/BF01300292. View

2.
Spencer J, Sollid L . The human intestinal B-cell response. Mucosal Immunol. 2016; 9(5):1113-24. DOI: 10.1038/mi.2016.59. View

3.
OLeary A, Sweeney E . Lymphoglandular complexes of the colon: structure and distribution. Histopathology. 1986; 10(3):267-83. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1986.tb02481.x. View

4.
Horjus Talabur Horje C, Smids C, Meijer J, Groenen M, Rijnders M, van Lochem E . High endothelial venules associated with T cell subsets in the inflamed gut of newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease patients. Clin Exp Immunol. 2016; 188(1):163-173. PMC: 5343347. DOI: 10.1111/cei.12918. View

5.
Pabst O, Herbrand H, Friedrichsen M, Velaga S, Dorsch M, Berhardt G . Adaptation of solitary intestinal lymphoid tissue in response to microbiota and chemokine receptor CCR7 signaling. J Immunol. 2006; 177(10):6824-32. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.177.10.6824. View