M cell–dependent commensal uptake confers encephalitogenic phenotypes on γδT17 cells in Peyer’s patches

S Seiga Komiyama (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) Y Yotaro Kodaira (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) R Rae Maeda (Multi-Omics Platform, Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine) Y Yuki Sugiura K Koichiro Suzuki (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) A Aiko Saeki (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) Y Yusuke Kinashi (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) H Hiroyuki Oguchi (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) K Kokona Takano (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) S Satoshi Onawa (Gut Environmental Design Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology) A Ako Matsui (Division of Allergy and Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University) E Eita Sasaki (Division of Analytical Chemistry for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) K Kisara Hattori-Muroi (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) S Shunsuke Kimura (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) Y Yumiko Fujimura (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) Y Yuyo Ka (Humanized Model Laboratory, Animal Resource Technical Research Center, Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science) T Tomoyuki Ogura (Humanized Model Laboratory, Animal Resource Technical Research Center, Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science) K Kenjiro Hanaoka (Division of Analytical Chemistry for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University) M Minako Ito H Hiroshi Watarai (Department of Immunology and Stem Cell Biology, Kanazawa University) T Tsuneyasu Kaisho (Department of Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University) N Nobuyuki Udagawa (Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University) D Daisuke Takahashi (Department of Physiology of Visceral Function and Body Fluid, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University) K Koji Hase (Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University)

Abstract

Interleukin-17-producing γδT cells (γδT17 cells) play a dual role in immune regulation, serving as both protectors in various tissues and orchestrators of inflammatory responses in autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a rodent model of multiple sclerosis. However, the ontology and repertoires of encephalitogenic γδT17 cells remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the encephalitogenicity of γδT17 cells is conferred through microfold cell (M cell)-dependent uptake of commensal bacteria in Peyer’s patches. Specifically, CXCR6 hi Vγ6 + Vδ1 + invariant γδT17 cells are activated by specific commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp., which stimulate TCR of CXCR6 hi Vγ6 + Vδ1 + invariant γδT17 cells. During the early stages of EAE, γδT17 cells infiltrate the central nervous system (CNS), initiating a type 17 inflammatory response. Our findings illustrate that Peyer’s patch M cells serve as a critical bridge, linking the pathological association between commensal bacteria and the onset of CNS inflammation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 2
Published January 13, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (24)

S

Seiga Komiyama

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

Y

Yotaro Kodaira

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

R

Rae Maeda

Multi-Omics Platform, Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine

Y

Yuki Sugiura

K

Koichiro Suzuki

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

A

Aiko Saeki

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

Y

Yusuke Kinashi

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

H

Hiroyuki Oguchi

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

K

Kokona Takano

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

S

Satoshi Onawa

Gut Environmental Design Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology

A

Ako Matsui

Division of Allergy and Immunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University

E

Eita Sasaki

Division of Analytical Chemistry for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

K

Kisara Hattori-Muroi

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

S

Shunsuke Kimura

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

Y

Yumiko Fujimura

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

Y

Yuyo Ka

Humanized Model Laboratory, Animal Resource Technical Research Center, Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science

T

Tomoyuki Ogura

Humanized Model Laboratory, Animal Resource Technical Research Center, Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science

K

Kenjiro Hanaoka

Division of Analytical Chemistry for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University

M

Minako Ito

H

Hiroshi Watarai

Department of Immunology and Stem Cell Biology, Kanazawa University

T

Tsuneyasu Kaisho

Department of Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University

N

Nobuyuki Udagawa

Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University

D

Daisuke Takahashi

Department of Physiology of Visceral Function and Body Fluid, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University

K

Koji Hase

Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University