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 ( < .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.