Distinct Tissue-Dependent Composition and Gene Expression of Human Fetal Innate Lymphoid CellsShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: European Journal of Immunology, ISSN 0014-2980, E-ISSN 1521-4141, Vol. 55, no 2, article id e202451150Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The human fetal immune system starts to develop in the first trimester and likely plays a crucial role in fetal development and maternal-fetal tolerance. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the earliest lymphoid cells to arise in the human fetus. ILCs consist of natural killer (NK) cells, ILC1s, ILC2s, and ILC3s that all share a common lymphoid origin. Here, we studied fetal ILC subsets, mainly NK cells and ILC3s and their potential progenitors, across human fetal tissues. Our results show that fetal ILC subsets have distinct distribution, developmental kinetics, and gene expression profiles across human fetal tissues. Furthermore, we identify CD34+RORγt+Eomes− and CD34+RORγt+Eomes+ cells in the fetal intestine, indicating that tissue-specific ILC progenitors exist already during fetal development.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wiley-VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, 2025. Vol. 55, no 2, article id e202451150
National Category
Immunology in the Medical Area Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-555164DOI: 10.1002/eji.202451150ISI: 001377561600001PubMedID: 39676343Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85212159972OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-555164DiVA, id: diva2:1954280
Funder
Karolinska InstituteSwedish Research Council, 2021-03069Swedish Research Council, 2021-01039Swedish Cancer Society, 22 2319 PjEU, Horizon 2020Wenner-Gren FoundationsMagnus Bergvall Foundation, 2023-5872025-04-242025-04-242025-04-24Bibliographically approved