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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Isolation and Characterization of Dendritic Cells and Macrophages from the Mouse Intestine
Published on: May 21, 2012
CX3CR1+ Macrophages and CD8+ T Cells Control Intestinal IgA Production
Young-In Kim1,2, Joo-Hye Song3, Hyun-Jeong Ko4
1Laboratory of Microbiology, College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Korea.
Abstract:
Secretory IgA is a key host defense mechanism that controls the intestinal microbiota. We investigated the role of CD11c+CX3CR1+CD64+ macrophages in IgA production in the intestine. Intestinal CX3CR1+ macrophages directly induced IgA secretion by B cells. Ag delivery to lamina propria (LP) CX3CR1+ macrophages specifically induced intestinal IgA production. The induction of IgA by CX3CR1+ macrophages required BAFF, a proliferation-inducing ligand, and TNF-α, but was surprisingly independent of TLR-mediated microbial recognition and retinoic acid signaling. IgA secretion by CX3CR1+ macrophages was enhanced by LP CD8+ T cells through the secretion of IL-9 and IL-13. CX3CR1+ macrophages and CD8+ T cells induced IgA production by B cells independently of mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer patches. Our data reveal a previously unrecognized cellular circuitry in which LP CX3CR1+ macrophages, B cells, and CD8+ T cells coordinate the protective Ig secretion in the small intestine upon peripheral Ag delivery.
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