B cell residency but not T cell-independent IgA switching in the gut requires innate lymphoid cells.

Abstract

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)-producing plasma cells derived from conventional B cells in the gut play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of gut flora. Both T cell-dependent and T cell-independent IgA class switching occurs in the lymphoid structures in the gut, whose formation depends on lymphoid tissue inducers (LTis), a subset of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). However, our knowledge on the functions of non-LTi helper-like ILCs, the innate counter parts of CD4 T helper cells, in promoting IgA production is still limited. By cell adoptive transfer and utilizing a unique mouse strain, we demonstrated that the generation of IgA-producing plasma cells from B cells in the gut occurred efficiently in the absence of both T cells and helper-like ILCs and without engaging TGF-β signaling. Nevertheless, B cell recruitment and/or retention in the gut required functional NKp46^-CCR6⁺ LTis. Therefore, while CCR6⁺ LTis contribute to the accumulation of B cells in the gut through inducing lymphoid structure formation, helper-like ILCs are not essential for the T cell-independent generation of IgA-producing plasma cells.