IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Induction of germinal centers in human Peyer's patches shapes robust intestinal adaptive immunity in early life.

Induction of germinal centers in human Peyer's patches shapes robust intestinal adaptive immunity in early life.

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The talk described a study of how intestinal immunity develops in early life, focusing on human Peyer’s patches and mesenteric lymph nodes. Using tissue from 47 donors aged 2 months to 12 years, the researchers combined imaging, flow cytometry, and single-cell RNA sequencing to map germinal center reactions. They found that Peyer’s patches are the main site of gut germinal center activity, which peaks during the first two years of life and then declines. During this period, germinal center B cells expand, accumulate mutations, and give rise to memory B cells. The team also identified age-related changes in T follicular helper cells, with one subset likely supporting early germinal center responses and declining over time. Transcriptionally, younger germinal center B cells showed MYC-driven proliferation, while older cells showed a hypoxia/HIF1-alpha program that may limit germinal center growth. Overall, the study suggests early diet and microbial exposure are critical for shaping lifelong gut immunity.

Meta Tag

Date April 18, 2026 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Room 153C

Session Emerging Topics in Mucosal Immunology

Speaker Yosuke Sakamoto

Track Mucosal And Regional Immunology (MUC)

Year 2026

Keywords

intestinal immunity

Peyer’s patches

germinal center B cells

T follicular helper cells

early life gut immunity

April 18, 2026 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

153C

Emerging Topics in Mucosal Immunology

Yosuke Sakamoto

Mucosal And Regional Immunology (MUC)

2026