Human Intestinal Enteroids Model MHC-II in the Gut Epithelium

Abstract

The role of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in mucosal tolerance and immunity remains poorly understood. We present a method for inducing MHC class II (MHC-II) in human enteroids, "mini-guts" derived from small intestinal crypt stem cells, and show that the intracellular MHC-II peptide-pathway is intact and functional in IECs. Our approach enables human enteroids to be used for novel <i>in vitro</i> studies into IEC MHC-II regulation and function during health and disease.