Innate lymphoid cells regulate radiation-induced skin damage via CCR10 signaling

Objective To assess the role of CCR10 in innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) response in radiation-induced skin damage.Material and methods CCR10+/− and CCR10−/− mice were treated with either a single dose of 5 Gy or 5 Gy everyday for 6 days with a total dose of 30 Gy with X-ray. ILCs from the skin were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry 3 and 10 days after irradiation. A mouse model of radio-dermatitis was used to assess the skin damage 10 days after 6 × 5 Gy irradiation.Results Skin ILCs were decreased in both CCR10+/− and CCR10−/− mice 3 days after single irradiation (p < .05). However, the skin inflammation disappeared and ILCs returned to normal levels 10 days after single irradiation. ILCs of both genotypes were also decreased after 6 × 5 Gy irradiation, but the percentage of skin ILCs in CCR10−/− mice was lower than that in CCR10+/− mice 10 days after irradiation. The immunohistochemistry results showed that CCR10−/− mice had more severe skin inflammation than CCR10+/− mice.Conclusion CCR10−/− mice had lower percentages of ILCs and more skin damage than CCR10+/− mice after irradiation. These findings indicate that skin ILCs are regulated by CCR10, which might be a potential target for reducing the radio-dermatitis.