Atlas of human gut-associated lymphoid tissue reveals immunomodulatory interactions of B cells

Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is organized lymphoid tissue that responds chronically to antigens, including whole bacteria, sampled from the gut lumen. The ensuing IgA plasma cell response disseminates to regulate bacterial populations and to mediate intestinal immune homeostasis. GALT has roles in the development of the innate like marginal zone B cell population and is also associated with a B cell mediated contribution to ulcerative colitis (UC) severity and response to therapy. Applying integrated multiomics methodologies, we identified key, spatially resolved interactions of B cell subsets including broad regulatory features of double negative 2 B cells with potential to maintain homeostasis on the microbe-rich mucosal front line. By contrast, GALT in UC is distorted in composition and spatial distribution of B cell subsets that have altered immunomodulatory potential compared to healthy GALT. Thus, we identify interactions of strategically located B cells as mediators of immunological equilibrium in human gut This repository contains a record of the data and code used for this project.