Coordinated network of T cells and antigen presenting cells regulate tolerance to food

Dendritic cells, notably conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s), have long been thought to instruct naive CD4+ T-cells to differentiate into induced regulatory T cells (iTregs) in response to commensal and food antigens. Recent findings revealed a distinct population of RORγt antigen-presenting cells (APCs) responsible for iTreg induction to commensal bacteria. Our research extends this understanding by demonstrating that RORγt APCs also induce iTreg responses to food antigens by presenting food antigens on MHCII. This raises intriguing questions regarding the role of cDC1s, known to present food antigens. Using several genetic mice models, we now addressed the complexity of the immune system and revealed surprising interplay of the RORgt APCs, iTreg and cDC1 in governing multiplayer immune responses to dietary antigens.