Early microbial exposure shapes adult immunity by altering CD8+ T cell development. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Microbial exposure during development can elicit long-lasting effects on the health of an individual. However, how microbial exposure in early life leads to permanent changes in the immune system is unknown. Here, we show that the microbial environment alters the set point for immune susceptibility by altering the developmental architecture of the CD8+ T cell compartment. In particular, early microbial exposure results in the preferential expansion of highly responsive fetal-derived CD8+ T cells that persist into adulthood and provide the host with enhanced immune protection against intracellular pathogens. Interestingly, microbial education of fetal-derived CD8+ T cells occurs during thymic development rather than in the periphery and involves the acquisition of a more effector-like epigenetic program. Collectively, our results provide a conceptual framework for understanding how microbial colonization in early life leads to lifelong changes in the immune system.

publication date

  • November 28, 2022

Research

keywords

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Fetus
  • Immunity

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC9894172

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85142882786

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.4049/jimmunol.1400553

PubMed ID

  • 36442114

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 119

issue

  • 49