Some immune cells have a homing ability that directs them to the skin of the infant to give protection, according to research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio).
The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at the health science center’s Na Xiong, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics, described how these T cells target the skin like a guided missile. They have a unique homing characteristic from other T cells. We discovered the mechanism underlying this homing action.
According to Xiong, senior author of a research that was featured on the cover of the February 2023 issue of Nature Immunology, localization of these T cells to the skin is crucial for lifelong immunity in addition to during birth.
A mother’s defences shield a foetus from bacteria while it is in the womb. Commensal bacteria are present in the skin, as well as other tissues like the stomach, from birth. These are benign bacteria that provide a useful purpose by controlling any pathogenic bacteria.
Invariant killer T (iNKT) cells are the name for the skin-homing cells. The thymus is an organ from which these immune cells develop and undergo their programming which is situated between the lungs in humans.
According to Xiong, the iNKT cells work with commensal bacteria to maintain healthy skin and protect the body from bacterial infections.
“We discovered that there will be dysregulation of commensal bacteria in the skin. And a change in the bacterial composition if the iNKT cells do not adequately get to the skin or if there is no such population in the skin,” Xiong said. Because of this, potentially harmful bacteria may proliferate out of control and there may not be enough beneficial bacteria present.
Another significant observation was that the skin-homing iNKT cells aid in the formation of hair follicles. The cells are not the only ones there; they preferentially cluster around follicles, according to Xiong. Moreover, there are several commensal microorganisms inside the hair follicle. They frequently stay there, he claimed.
He continued by saying that the follicles themselves are important immune defence areas.
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