Intestinal epithelial cell-derived integrin αβ6 plays an important role in the induction of regulatory T cells and inhibits an antigen-specific Th2 response

Toleroge nic DCs and Tregs are believed to play a critical role in oral tolerance. However, the mechanisms of the generation of tolerogenic DCs and activation of Tregs in the gut remain poorly understood. This study aims to dissect the molecular mechanisms by which IECs and protein antigen induce functional tolerogenic DCs and Tregs. Expression of alpha v beta 6 by gut epithelial cell-derived exosomes, its coupling with food antigen, and their relationship with the development of functional tolerogenic DCs and Tregs were examined by using in vitro and in vivo approaches. The results show that IECs up-regulated the integrin alpha v beta 6 upon uptake of antigens. The epithelial cell-derived exosomes entrapped and transported alpha v beta 6 and antigens to the extracellular environment. The uptake of antigens alone induced DCs to produce LTGF beta, whereas exosomes carrying alpha v beta 6/antigen resulted in the production of abundant, active TGF-beta in DCs that conferred to DCs the tolerogenic properties. Furthermore, alpha v beta 6/OVA-carrying, exosome-primed DCs were found to promote the production of active TGF-beta in Tregs. Thus, in vivo administration of alpha v beta 6/OVA-laden exosomes induced the generation of Tregs and suppressed skewed Th2 responses toward food antigen in the intestine. Our study provides important molecular insights into the molecular mechanisms of Treg development by demonstrating an important role of IEC-derived exosomes carrying alpha v beta 6 and food antigen in the induction of tolerogenic DCs and antigen-specific Tregs. J. Leukoc. Biol. 90: 751-759; 2011.