Keratinocytes Share Gene Expression Fingerprint with Epidermal Langerhans Cells via mRNA Transfer

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 139; no. 11; pp. 2313 - 2323.e8
• Main Authors: Su, Qingtai, Igyártó, Botond Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2019
• Subjects: LN; LC; qRT-PCR; KC; eLC; WT; ATAC-seq; DC; DETC; MHC-II
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.05.006

The immune functions of epithelia-resident dendritic cells are influenced by epithelial-derived cytokines. Here we identified a communication form between tissue-resident dendritic cells and niche cells that allows direct intracellular material exchange between the parties. We show that many keratinocyte (KC)-specific molecules such as keratins and adhesion molecules could be detected in the epidermal-resident Langerhans cells (LCs) as mRNA and protein. Furthermore, KC-derived Cre led to genetic recombination in the LCs. We also found that LCs containing KC-derived material were more prone to migration. The KC-specific signatures were transferred from KCs to LCs through an exosome-independent mechanism that likely involved nanotubes/dendrites. The transfer of material between epithelial cells and epithelia-associated dendritic cells was not limited to mice or to KC-to-LC transfer. Taken together, these data suggest that the epithelial environment might have a long-term effect on dendritic cell biology and that genetic tools that specifically target epithelial cells also affect tissue-resident immune cells.