GPR15-guided CD8+ T regulatory cells control intestinal inflammation

J Jing Cui Z Zuojia Chen Y Yan H. Cheng J Jia Nie M Maria H. Zhu C Chen Xiang S Samuel Chauvin W Wiem Lassoued C Can Liu K Kartika Padhan J Jian Song J Joy A. Pai B Borja Ocón Y Yifan Yang Y Yikun Yao A Ann Y. Park J Justin Q. Gabrielski L Lixin Zheng P Ping Du Jiang Y Yu Zhang (Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha China) H Huie Jing L Leilei Xu V Vicky Chen B Brent A. Calabresi S Stefania Pittaluga D David E. Kleiner C Clifton L. Dalgard S Sinan Sari S Salim Can E Elif Karakoc-Aydiner S Safa Baris B Baran Erman M Michael Field J Jocelyn A. Silvester G Gwen Saccocia E Eman K. Buhamrah K Khaled Husain Z Zahra Chavoshzadeh N Nima Rezaei A Ali İşlek H Hasan Baş F Fatma Dereli Devrez R Rafah Mackeh I Ivan J. Fuss D Daniel S. Reich S Shania Bailey H Houssein Abdul Sater J James L. Gulley J Juraj Kabat M Margery Smelkinson S Sundar Ganesan Z Zhenghao Chen P Peter C. Grayson N Neelam Redekar J Justin Lack Z Zhiyong Lu B Bernice Lo H Hassan Abolhassani A Ahmet Ozen A Athos Bousvaros S Scott B. Snapper E Eugene C. Butcher J Juan Ravell R Rémy Bosselut H Helen C. Su C Chuan Wu M Michael J. Lenardo

Abstract

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes chronic suffering from gastrointestinal inflammation and dysfunction that can progress to colon cancer 1,2 . The prevalence of the disease is increasing, and there is an urgent need to better understand its pathogenic mechanisms to improve treatment. We show that GPR15—a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in immune cells and described previously as an entry co-factor for human and simian immunodeficiency viruses 3 —is a marker and homing receptor for a subset of intramucosal GPR15-guided regulatory CD8 + T lymphocytes (CD8 + T IGR  cells). Deleterious GPR15 gene variants in humans cause defective homing of CD8 + T IGR cells and are associated with severe early-onset IBD. Moreover, CD8 + T IGR cells are reduced in the intestinal mucosa of individuals with sporadic IBD. In mice, GPR15 deficiency impairs colonic homing of CD8 + T IGR cells, leading to accumulation of inflammatory macrophages and increased susceptibility to colitis. CD8 + T IGR cells potently kill macrophages activated by intestinal damage or disease using Fas ligand and TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK). The identification of CD8 + T IGR cells yields new insights into organ-specific immune regulation and potential therapeutics for IBD.

Article Details

Journal Nature
Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published June 08, 2026
ISSN 0028-0836
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 0028-0836 Health Sciences

Authors (67)

J

Jing Cui

Z

Zuojia Chen

Y

Yan H. Cheng

J

Jia Nie

M

Maria H. Zhu

C

Chen Xiang

S

Samuel Chauvin

W

Wiem Lassoued

C

Can Liu

K

Kartika Padhan

J

Jian Song

J

Joy A. Pai

B

Borja Ocón

Y

Yifan Yang

Y

Yikun Yao

A

Ann Y. Park

J

Justin Q. Gabrielski

L

Lixin Zheng

P

Ping Du Jiang

Y

Yu Zhang

Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha China

H

Huie Jing

L

Leilei Xu

V

Vicky Chen

B

Brent A. Calabresi

S

Stefania Pittaluga

D

David E. Kleiner

C

Clifton L. Dalgard

S

Sinan Sari

S

Salim Can

E

Elif Karakoc-Aydiner

S

Safa Baris

B

Baran Erman

M

Michael Field

J

Jocelyn A. Silvester

G

Gwen Saccocia

E

Eman K. Buhamrah

K

Khaled Husain

Z

Zahra Chavoshzadeh

N

Nima Rezaei

A

Ali İşlek

H

Hasan Baş

F

Fatma Dereli Devrez

R

Rafah Mackeh

I

Ivan J. Fuss

D

Daniel S. Reich

S

Shania Bailey

H

Houssein Abdul Sater

J

James L. Gulley

J

Juraj Kabat

M

Margery Smelkinson

S

Sundar Ganesan

Z

Zhenghao Chen

P

Peter C. Grayson

N

Neelam Redekar

J

Justin Lack

Z

Zhiyong Lu

B

Bernice Lo

H

Hassan Abolhassani

A

Ahmet Ozen

A

Athos Bousvaros

S

Scott B. Snapper

E

Eugene C. Butcher

J

Juan Ravell

R

Rémy Bosselut

H

Helen C. Su

C

Chuan Wu

M

Michael J. Lenardo