Rorγt-positive dendritic cells are required for the induction of peripheral regulatory T cells in response to oral antigens

Abstract

The intestinal immune system maintains tolerance to harmless food proteins and gut microbiota through peripherally derived RORγt⁺ Tregs (pTregs), which prevent food intolerance and inflammatory bowel disease. Recent studies suggested that RORγt⁺ antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which encompass rare dendritic cell (DC) subsets and type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), are key to pTreg induction. Here, we developed a mouse with reduced RORγt⁺ APCs by deleting a specific cis-regulatory element of Rorc encoding RORγt. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry analyses confirmed the depletion of a RORγt⁺ DC subset and ILC3s. These mice showed a secondary reduction in pTregs, impaired tolerance to oral antigens, and an increase in T helper (Th)2 cells. Conversely, ILC3-deficient mice showed no pTregs or Th2 cell abnormalities. Lineage tracing revealed that RORγt⁺ DCs share a lymphoid origin with ILC3s, consistent with their similar phenotypic traits. These findings highlight the role of lymphoid RORγt⁺ DCs in maintaining intestinal immune balance and preventing conditions like food allergies.

Keywords: DC; ILC; Prdm16; Rorc; Rorγt; Th2; Thetis cells; dendritic cells; oral tolerance; pTreg.