Continuous exposure to commensal bacteria gives rise to a complex intestinal immune system that maintains local tolerance, which requires Foxp3-expressing Treg. Recently, the regulation of TFH function by plasma cells has been reported, but effects of intestinal LP-PCs, one of the richest plasma cells in the body, on T cell differentiation have not been studied. Here, we investigated whether IgA(+) LP-PCs from murine small intestines had effects on T cell differentiation. Surprisingly, when IgA(+) LP-PCs were cocultured with CD4(+) T cells, Foxp3 expression was increased significantly in CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. Results using the Transwell coculture system revealed that soluble factors from LP-PCs, TGF-β, and RA were involved in the induction of Foxp3 expression. Furthermore, Foxp3(+)CD25(-) T cells were decreased in PP after intestinal depletion of plasma cells. In addition, intestinal colony transfer from SPF to germ-free mice was demonstrated to generate IgA(+) LP-PCs and Foxp3(+) T cells with meaningful correlation in LP. We report for the first time that IgA(+) LP-PCs induce Foxp3 expression in T cells through TGF-β and RA. LP-PCs generated by commensal bacteria may play a crucial role in intestinal immunity through the induction of Treg, as well as IgA production.
Keywords: Foxp3; TGF-β; regulatory T cell; retinoic acid.