Open AccessThe molecular and phenotypic makeup of fetal human skin T lymphocytes
Author(s) -
René Reitermaier,
Tanya Ayub,
Julia Staller,
Philip Kienzl,
Nikolaus Fortelny,
Pablo Vieyra-Garcia,
Christof Worda,
Christian Fiala,
Clement Staud,
Wolfgang Eppel,
Anke Scharrer,
Thomas Krausgruber,
Adelheid ElbeBürger
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.754
H-Index - 325
eISSN - 1477-9129
pISSN - 0950-1991
DOI - 10.1242/dev.199781
Subject(s) - biology , phenotype , immunology , flow cytometry , population , fetus , human skin , immunity , transcriptome , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , genetics , gene expression , gene , pregnancy , demography , sociology
The adult human skin contains a vast number of T cells that are essential for skin homeostasis and pathogen defense. T cells are first observed in the skin at the early stages of gestation; however, our understanding of their contribution to early immunity has been limited by their low abundance and lack of comprehensive methodologies for their assessment. Here, we describe a new workflow for isolating and expanding significant amounts of T cells from fetal human skin. Using multiparametric flow cytometry and in situ immunofluorescence, we found a large population with a naive phenotype and small populations with a memory and regulatory phenotype. Their molecular state was characterized using single-cell transcriptomics and TCR repertoire profiling. Importantly, culture of total fetal skin biopsies facilitated T cell expansion without a substantial impact on their phenotype, a major prerequisite for subsequent functional assays. Collectively, our experimental approaches and data advance the understanding of fetal skin immunity and potential use in future therapeutic interventions.