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Review
. 2024 Oct 15:15:1466669.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1466669. eCollection 2024.

Immunoregulation role of the erythroid cells

Chunxiao Niu  1 , Jiyan Zhang  1
Affiliations
Review

Immunoregulation role of the erythroid cells

Chunxiao Niu et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Erythroid cells are the most abundant cells in the human body. In addition to their established function in gas-transportation, erythroid cells at various stages of differentiation have recently been shown to have immunomodulatory roles. Red blood cells may serve as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity, while their immature counterparts, CD71+ erythroid cells (CECs) have important immunomodulatory functions in various contexts. CECs are abundant in human cord blood and placenta, where they contribute to fetomaternal tolerance. CECs also accumulate in patients with infections, tumors, and anemia, and effectively suppress T cells by producing high levels of arginase, reactive oxygen species, programmed death-ligand 1, transforming growth factor β, and/or interleukin-10. Here, we systematically summarize the immunomodulatory functions of erythroid cells and propose some potential therapeutic applications based on their characteristics.

Keywords: CD71 + erythroid cells; PD-L1; ROS; TGF-β; erythropoiesis; immunoregulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of embryonic hematopoiesis in human and mouse. In human, erythropoiesis first occurs in the blood islands from the mesoderm layer of the yolk sac, generating primitive erythroblasts (PEs). Subsequently, erythromyeloid progenitors (EMPs) from the yolk sac migrate to the fetal liver and spleen. Finally erythropoiesis occurs in bone marrow. In mouse, primary erythropoiesis develops in the yolk sac. The yolk sac then atrophies and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) appear in aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region and transfer to the liver. Finally, erythropoiesis transfers to the bone marrow before birth.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Developmental stages of erythropoiesis after birth. Under steady state, erythropoiesis occurs in the bone marrow, while stress erythropoiesis occurs mainly in the spleen. Erythropoiesis occurs in erythroblastic islands, which contains a central macrophage surrounded by developing erythroid cells.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Immune regulation effects of red blood cells (RBCs).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mechanisms and immunoregulation effects of CECs.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Manipulation of the CECs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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