Convergent evolution of monocyte differentiation in adult skin instructs Langerhans cell identity

Langerhans cells (LCs) are distinct among phagocytes, functioning both as embryo-derived, tissue-resident macrophages in skin innervation and repair and as migrating professional antigen-presenting cells, a function classically assigned to dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we demonstrate that both intrin...

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Published inScience immunology Vol. 9; no. 99; p. eadp0344
Main Authors Appios, Anna, Davies, James, Sirvent, Sofia, Henderson, Stephen, Trzebanski, Sébastien, Schroth, Johannes, Law, Morven L, Carvalho, Inês Boal, Pinto, Marlene Magalhaes, Carvalho, Cyril, Kan, Howard Yuan-Hao, Lovlekar, Shreya, Major, Christina, Vallejo, Andres, Hall, Nigel J, Ardern-Jones, Michael, Liu, Zhaoyuan, Ginhoux, Florent, Henson, Sian M, Gentek, Rebecca, Emmerson, Elaine, Jung, Steffen, Polak, Marta E, Bennett, Clare L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 06.09.2024
Subjects
Animals
Cell Differentiation - immunology
Female
Humans
Langerhans Cells - cytology
Langerhans Cells - immunology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Monocytes - cytology
Monocytes - immunology
Skin - cytology
Skin - immunology
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Summary:Langerhans cells (LCs) are distinct among phagocytes, functioning both as embryo-derived, tissue-resident macrophages in skin innervation and repair and as migrating professional antigen-presenting cells, a function classically assigned to dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we demonstrate that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors imprint this dual identity. Using ablation of embryo-derived LCs in the murine adult skin and tracking differentiation of incoming monocyte-derived replacements, we found intrinsic intraepidermal heterogeneity. We observed that ontogenically distinct monocytes give rise to LCs. Within the epidermis, Jagged-dependent activation of Notch signaling, likely within the hair follicle niche, provided an initial site of LC commitment before metabolic adaptation and survival of monocyte-derived LCs. In the human skin, embryo-derived LCs in newborns retained transcriptional evidence of their macrophage origin, but this was superseded by DC-like immune modules after postnatal expansion. Thus, adaptation to adult skin niches replicates conditioning of LC at birth, permitting repair of the embryo-derived LC network.
ISSN:2470-9468
DOI:10.1126/sciimmunol.adp0344