Microbiota promote enhanced CD39 expression in γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes through the activation of TCR and IL-15 signaling.

Intraepithelial lymphocytes expressing the γδ T cell receptor (γδ IEL) provide continuous surveillance of the intestinal epithelium. We report that mice harboring a microbiota-specific hyperproliferative γδ IEL (γδ) phenotype also upregulate the expression of the ectonucleotidase CD39, a marker of regulatory γδ T cells. Enhanced TCR and IL-15 signaling correlates with a progression from a naïve-like CD39 γδ IEL to a more mature, tissue-adapted CD39 IEL population. We found that TCRγδ activation drives CD122-mediated CD39 upregulation on γδ IELs and increased mucosal IL-15 further amplifies CD39 expression in these cells. Further investigation revealed that CD39 induction requires sustained exposure to the γδ-associated microbiota. Moreover, CD39 γδ IELs exhibit a reduced capacity to produce pro-inflammatory cytokine, which may explain the lack of histopathology in γδ mice. Overall, our study identifies a previously unappreciated mechanism by which an altered microbiota amplifies CD39 expression on γδ IELs, leading to the expansion of γδ IELs with regulatory potential.