Developing Human Skin Contains Lymphocytes Demonstrating a Memory Signature
November 2020
in “
Cell Reports Medicine
”
lymphocytes CD45RO+ conventional T cells regulatory T cells Tregs effector memory properties hair follicle development mass cytometry flow cytometry fetal skin naive phenotype memory-like features prenatal skin lymphocytes antigen encounters allergen encounters immune responses memory T cells immune cells skin immune cells
TLDR Developing human skin has immune cells with memory-like features.
The study revealed that developing human skin contained a complex landscape of lymphocytes, including CD45RO+ conventional T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) with effector memory properties. These Tregs increased during the second trimester, coinciding with hair follicle development, suggesting a role for hair follicle biology in Treg residency. The research utilized mass and flow cytometry to analyze fetal skin, finding that while most T cells had a naive phenotype, a subset showed memory-like features. The findings suggested that prenatal skin lymphocytes might play a crucial role in antigen and allergen encounters in utero and infancy, with implications for understanding immune responses in early life. The study emphasized the need for further research to understand how skin immune cell populations evolve post-birth and the impact of environmental exposures on immune development.
