Dysbiosis-induced expansion of AXL-positive inflammatory type 3 dendritic cells triggers preclinical autoimmunity.

Dysbiosis-induced expansion of AXL-positive inflammatory type 3 dendritic cells drives preclinical autoimmunity in mice, linking gut microbes to systemic autoimmune features.

• Why it matters: Understanding how gut microbiota influence immune regulation is crucial for preventing autoimmune diseases. Dysbiosis and immune dysregulation are often associated, but the mechanisms connecting them remain unclear.
• What they did: The study used Notch2 cKO mice, which develop intestinal dysbiosis and systemic autoimmunity, and demonstrated that dysbiosis leads to the expansion of AXL+ inf-DC3 cells, a process transferable to wild-type mice, highlighting a microbiota-DC axis.
• The result: Findings reveal that inflammatory DC3 cells act as a cellular bridge between gut dysbiosis and systemic autoimmunity, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune conditions.