Lympho-epithelial interactions between intestinal T resident memory cells (Trm) and the epithelium have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity. We developed ex vivo autologous organoid-mucosal T cell cocultures to functionally assess lymphoepithelial interactions in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients compared to controls. We demonstrate the direct epithelial cell death induced by autologous mucosal T cells in CD patients but not in controls. These findings were positively correlated with T cell infiltration of the organoids. This potential was inhibited by limiting lympho-epithelial interactions through CD103 and NKG2D blocking antibodies. These data directly demonstrate for the first time the direct deleterious effect of mucosal T cells on the epithelium of CD patients. Such ex-vivo models are promising techniques to unravel the pathophysiology of these diseases and the potential mode of action of current and future therapies.
Keywords: CD103; NKG2D; crohn’s disease; inflammatory bowel diseases; lymphoepithelial interactions; organoids.
Copyright © 2022 Hammoudi, Hamoudi, Bonnereau, Bottois, Pérez, Bezault, Hassid, Chardiny, Grand, Gergaud, Bonnet, Chedouba, Tran Minh, Gornet, Baudry, Corte, Maggiori, Toubert, McBride, Brochier, Neighbors, Le Bourhis and Allez.