A role for human skin–resident T cells in wound healing
Open Access
- 23 March 2009
- journal article
- Published by Rockefeller University Press in The Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Vol. 206 (4), 743-750
- https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20081787
Abstract
Epidermal T cells have been shown to play unique roles in tissue homeostasis and repair in mice through local secretion of distinct growth factors in the skin. Human epidermis contains both αβ+ and γδ+ T cells whose functional capabilities are not understood. We demonstrate that human epidermal T cells are able to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) upon activation and promote wound healing in a skin organ culture model. Moreover, an analysis of the functional capabilities of T cells isolated from acute versus chronic wounds revealed a striking difference. Both αβ+ and Vδ1+ T cells isolated from acute wounds actively produced IGF-1, demonstrating that they are activated during tissue damage to participate in wound repair. In contrast, IGF-1 production could not be detected in T cells isolated from chronic wounds. In fact, skin T cells isolated from chronic wounds were refractory to further stimulation, suggesting an unresponsive state. Collectively, these results define a novel role for human epidermis–resident T cells in wound healing and provide new insight into our understanding of chronic wound persistence.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Chronic Wound Care Guidelines IssuedChronic Wound Care Guidelines IssuedJAMA, 2007
- The Vast Majority of CLA+ T Cells Are Resident in Normal SkinThe Journal of Immunology, 2006
- Homing and Function of Human Skin γδ T Cells and NK Cells: Relevance for Tumor SurveillanceThe Journal of Immunology, 2006
- Dendritic epidermal T cells regulate skin homeostasis through local production of insulin-like growth factor 1Nature Immunology, 2004
- A Role for Skin γδ T Cells in Wound RepairScience, 2002
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes: exploring the Third Way in immunologyNature Immunology, 2001
- Regulation of Cutaneous Malignancy by γδ T CellsScience, 2001
- Epidermal and Dermal Gamma-Delta T CellsChemical immunology, 2001
- Recognition of Self Antigens by Skin-Derived T Cells with Invariant γδ Antigen ReceptorsScience, 1991
- T-Cell Receptor-γ/δ Bearing Lymphocytes in Normal and Inflammatory Human SkinJournal of Investigative Dermatology, 1990