Fibroblast diversity within human gut-associated lymphoid tissues
(2026) In The Journal of experimental medicine 223(3).- Abstract
Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) represent major sites of adaptive immune priming in the intestine, yet our understanding of human GALT diversity and function remains limited. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and confocal laser microscopy to map the fibroblast (FB) landscape of human GALT, including that of Peyer's patches (PP), mucosal isolated lymphoid follicles (M-ILF), and submucosal ILF (SM-ILF). We identify CD24 as a marker that distinguishes GALT from other intestinal FB and demonstrate that CD24+ FB consist of distinct subsets that locate within discrete niches. We show that the composition and transcriptional profile of M-ILF and SM-ILF FB differs with SM-ILF FB appearing more focused at providing... (More)
Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) represent major sites of adaptive immune priming in the intestine, yet our understanding of human GALT diversity and function remains limited. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and confocal laser microscopy to map the fibroblast (FB) landscape of human GALT, including that of Peyer's patches (PP), mucosal isolated lymphoid follicles (M-ILF), and submucosal ILF (SM-ILF). We identify CD24 as a marker that distinguishes GALT from other intestinal FB and demonstrate that CD24+ FB consist of distinct subsets that locate within discrete niches. We show that the composition and transcriptional profile of M-ILF and SM-ILF FB differs with SM-ILF FB appearing more focused at providing T cell support. Finally, we find the transcription profile of PP T zone reticular cells to be altered in Crohn's disease and that cells with a GALT FB-like profile can be detected in other chronic inflammatory diseases. Collectively, our findings provide an important framework for understanding GALT diversity and function.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-03-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Humans, Fibroblasts/metabolism, Lymphoid Tissue/immunology, CD24 Antigen/metabolism, Peyer's Patches/immunology, Intestinal Mucosa/immunology, Single-Cell Analysis, Crohn Disease/pathology
- in
- The Journal of experimental medicine
- volume
- 223
- issue
- 3
- article number
- 20250471
- publisher
- Rockefeller University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105024656082
- pmid:41379085
- ISSN
- 1540-9538
- DOI
- 10.1084/jem.20250471
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- © 2025 Mörbe et al.
- id
- 3501b347-0607-4951-b435-8f7b69ec756f
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-29 10:56:41
- date last changed
- 2026-01-13 05:39:20
@article{3501b347-0607-4951-b435-8f7b69ec756f,
abstract = {{<p>Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) represent major sites of adaptive immune priming in the intestine, yet our understanding of human GALT diversity and function remains limited. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and confocal laser microscopy to map the fibroblast (FB) landscape of human GALT, including that of Peyer's patches (PP), mucosal isolated lymphoid follicles (M-ILF), and submucosal ILF (SM-ILF). We identify CD24 as a marker that distinguishes GALT from other intestinal FB and demonstrate that CD24+ FB consist of distinct subsets that locate within discrete niches. We show that the composition and transcriptional profile of M-ILF and SM-ILF FB differs with SM-ILF FB appearing more focused at providing T cell support. Finally, we find the transcription profile of PP T zone reticular cells to be altered in Crohn's disease and that cells with a GALT FB-like profile can be detected in other chronic inflammatory diseases. Collectively, our findings provide an important framework for understanding GALT diversity and function.</p>}},
author = {{Mörbe, Urs M and Junghus, Fredrik V and Nos, Grigorii and Jørgensen, Peter B and Ensmenger, Melissa J and Väänänen, Venla A and Wewer, Mads D and Madsen, Gorm R and Riis, Lene B and Jakobsen, Henrik L and Olsen, Lars R and Brunak, Søren and Nielsen, Ole H and Agace, William W}},
issn = {{1540-9538}},
keywords = {{Humans; Fibroblasts/metabolism; Lymphoid Tissue/immunology; CD24 Antigen/metabolism; Peyer's Patches/immunology; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology; Single-Cell Analysis; Crohn Disease/pathology}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{03}},
number = {{3}},
publisher = {{Rockefeller University Press}},
series = {{The Journal of experimental medicine}},
title = {{Fibroblast diversity within human gut-associated lymphoid tissues}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1084/jem.20250471}},
doi = {{10.1084/jem.20250471}},
volume = {{223}},
year = {{2026}},
}