Intestinal Myofibroblasts and Immune Tolerance

: Stromal cells, such as myofibroblasts and fibroblasts, represent a significant fraction of MHC class II‐positive cells in the normal human colonic lamina propria, suggesting they may play an important role in CD4+ T cell regulation in a tolerogenic environment. The aim of this study was to examine whether human colonic myofibroblasts (CMFs) phenotypically and functionally resemble conventional antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). Our results support the hypothesis that intestinal myofibroblasts are a novel, nonprofessional APC phenotype important in modulating mucosal T cell responses. Given their strategic location, we propose that intestinal myofibroblasts play a critical role in mediating tolerance to luminal antigens.