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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Preparation of Single-cell Suspensions for Cytofluorimetric Analysis from Different Mouse Skin Regions
Published on: April 20, 2016
Developmentally programmed early-age skin localization of iNKT cells supports local tissue development and
Wei-Bei Wang1, Yang-Ding Lin1, Luming Zhao2,3
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Skin is exposed to various environmental assaults and undergoes morphological changes immediately after birth. Proper localization and function of immune cells in the skin is crucial for protection and establishment of skin tissue homeostasis. Here we report the discovery of a developmentally programmed process that directs preferential localization of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells to the skin for early local homeostatic regulation. We show that iNKT cells are programmed predominantly with a CCR10+ skin-homing phenotype during thymic development in infant and young mice. Early skin localization of iNKT cells is critical for proper commensal bacterial colonization and tissue development. Mechanistically, skin iNKT cells provide a local source of transferrin that regulates iron metabolism in hair follicle progenitor cells and helps hair follicle development. These findings provide molecular insights into the establishment and physiological functions of iNKT cells in the skin during early life.
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