Tuft cells and fibroblasts promote thymus regeneration through ILC2-mediated type 2 immune response

Sci Immunol. 2024 Jan 12;9(91):eabq6930. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq6930. Epub 2024 Jan 12.

Abstract

The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ that is essential for the establishment of adaptive immunity through generation of immunocompetent T cells. In response to various stress signals, the thymus undergoes acute but reversible involution. However, the mechanisms governing its recovery are incompletely understood. Here, we used a dexamethasone-induced acute thymic involution mouse model to investigate how thymic hematopoietic cells (excluding T cells) contribute to thymic regeneration. scRNA-seq analysis revealed marked transcriptional and cellular changes in various thymic populations and highlighted thymus-resident innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2) as a key cell type involved in the response to damage. We identified that ILC2 are activated by the alarmins IL-25 and IL-33 produced in response to tissue damage by thymic tuft cells and fibroblasts, respectively. Moreover, using mouse models deficient in either tuft cells and/or IL-33, we found that these alarmins are required for effective thymus regeneration after dexamethasone-induced damage. We also demonstrate that upon their damage-dependent activation, thymic ILC2 produce several effector molecules linked to tissue regeneration, such as amphiregulin and IL-13, which in turn promote thymic epithelial cell differentiation. Collectively, our study elucidates a previously undescribed role for thymic tuft cells and fibroblasts in thymus regeneration through activation of the type 2 immune response.

MeSH terms

  • Alarmins
  • Animals
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibroblasts
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Interleukin-33*
  • Lymphocytes
  • Mice
  • Tuft Cells

Substances

  • Interleukin-33
  • Alarmins
  • Dexamethasone