Iron capture through CD71 drives perinatal and tumor-associated Treg expansion

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Abstract

Besides suppressing immune responses, regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain tissue homeostasis and control systemic metabolism. Whether iron is involved in Treg-mediated tolerance is completely unknown. Here, we showed that the transferrin receptor CD71 was upregulated on activated Tregs infiltrating human liver cancer. Mice with a Treg-restricted CD71 deficiency spontaneously developed a scurfy-like disease, caused by impaired perinatal Treg expansion. CD71-null Tregs displayed decreased proliferation and tissue-Treg signature loss. In perinatal life, CD71 deficiency in Tregs triggered hepatic iron overload response, characterized by increased hepcidin transcription and iron accumulation in macrophages. Lower bacterial diversity, and reduction of beneficial species, were detected in the fecal microbiota of CD71 conditional knockout neonates. Our findings indicate that CD71-mediated iron absorption is required for Treg perinatal expansion and is related to systemic iron homeostasis and bacterial gut colonization. Therefore, we hypothesize that Tregs establish nutritional tolerance through competition for iron during bacterial colonization after birth.

Authors

Ilenia Pacella, Alessandra Pinzon Grimaldos, Alessandra Rossi, Gloria Tucci, Marta Zagaglioni, Elena Potenza, Valeria Pinna, Ivano Rotella, Ilenia Cammarata, Valeria Cancila, Beatrice Belmonte, Claudio Tripodo, Giuseppe Pietropaolo, Chiara Di Censo, Giuseppe Sciumè, Valerio Licursi, Giovanna Peruzzi, Ylenia Antonucci, Silvia Campello, Francesca Guerrieri, Valerio Iebba, Rita Prota, Maria Di Chiara, Gianluca Terrin, Valerio De Peppo, Gian Luca Grazi, Vincenzo Barnaba, Silvia Piconese