Frascoli, M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Cbfb2 gene dosage programs the differential lymphoid lineage developmental potential of fetal and adult hematopoietic progenitors

Innate-like lymphocyte subsets are generated predominantly during early-life windows, yet the mechanisms that restrict their development in adulthood remain unclear. Here we identify Cbfb2 gene dosage as a quantitative regulator of stage-specific lymphoid potential. We show that reduction of CBF{beta}2 levels unlocks fetal-like competence in adult hematopoietic progenitors, enabling robust generation of IL-17-producing {gamma}{delta} T (T{gamma}{delta}17) cells. Although Cbfb2 haploinsufficiency minimally alters steady-state transcription, chromatin profiling of H3K4me3 revealed promoter-level changes in adult lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors consistent with altered developmental priming. In adult bone marrow chimeras, Cbfb+/2m progenitors efficiently generated functional V{gamma}2+ T{gamma}{delta}17 cells in lymph nodes and skin, and restoring Cbfb2 expression suppressed this capacity, establishing a dosage-dependent mechanism. Using an optimized in utero transplantation system, we further demonstrate that fetal niches amplify this latent competence and selectively favor IL-17-committed {gamma}{delta} T cell differentiation over conventional {beta} T cell output. Notch1 haploinsufficiency enhanced T{gamma}{delta}17 generation and phenocopied the effect of CBF{beta}2 dosage reduction, linking quantitative NOTCH1 signaling to innate-like lymphocyte developmental programming. Together, these findings reveal that fetal versus adult lymphopoiesis is governed by quantitative tuning of RUNX:CBF{beta} activity and uncover unexpected plasticity in adult hematopoiesis controlled by transcription factor dosage.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

Neonatal-derived IL-17 producing dermal gd T cells are required to prevent spontaneous atopic dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a T cell-mediated chronic skin disease and is associated with altered skin barrier integrity. Infants with mutations in genes involved in tissue barrier fitness are predisposed towards inflammatory diseases, but most do not develop or sustain the diseases, suggesting that there exist regulatory immune mechanisms to repair tissues and/or prevent aberrant inflammation. The absence of one single murine dermal cell type, the innate neonatal-derived IL-17 producing {gamma}{delta} T (T{gamma}{delta}17) cells, from birth resulted in spontaneous, highly penetrant AD with all the major hallmarks of human AD. In T{gamma}{delta}17 cell-deficient mice, basal keratinocyte transcriptome was altered months in advance of AD induction. Fulminant disease is driven by skin commensal bacteria dysbiosis and highly expanded dermal {beta} T clonotypes that produce the type three cytokines, IL-17 and IL-22. These results demonstrate that neonatal T{gamma}{delta}17 cells are innate skin regulatory T cells. The bifurcation of type 3 cytokine producing skin T cells into the homeostatic, early innate and pathogen-sensing, late adaptive T cell compartments underpin healthy skin and accounts for the dual function of type 3 cytokines in skin maintenance and inflammation.

immunology↗