IL-1 instructs para-bronchial cuff fibroblasts to organize lung antibody secreting cell niches during continued antigen exposure

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Authors: Inés Lammens, Jozefien Declercq, Andrew Stephen Brown, Ursula Smole, Kim Deswarte, Esther Hoste, Karen Herreman, Chananchida Sang-aram, Robin Browaeys, António P. Baptista, Ruth Seurinck, Yvan Saeys
+4 more Philippe Gevaert, Hamida Hammad, Bart N. Lambrecht, Stijn Vanhee
Cited by: 0
References: 84

Abstract

Abstract Secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) are prototypic sites of antibody production, yet mucosal sites also generate and maintain mucosal antibodies during continued inflammation. Using a murine model of house dust mite–induced airway inflammation, we show that prolonged allergen exposure induces tertiary lymphoid organs (TLO) within para-bronchial adventitial cuffs. Within these regions, IL-1 signaling instructs fibroblasts to form niches that recruit, retain, and sustain lung antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) through chemokine induction. These mucosal ASCs share immunoglobulin repertoires with TLO-derived germinal center B cells. Thus, continued allergen exposure reshapes the lung microenvironment by converting para-bronchial fibroblasts into IL-1–dependent supportive niches for non-IgE antibody production, revealing a fibroblast-mediated mechanism for local immune regulation in chronic inflammation. One sentence summary Continued allergen exposure drives lung TLO to generate ASCs that home to IL1-instructed para-bronchial cuffs.

Fields of Study & Subjects

T-cell and B-cell Immunology Asthma and respiratory diseases IL-33 ST2 and ILC Pathways

Publication details

Journal / source
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Publication date
10 January 2026
Document type
Preprint