TY - JOUR TI - Telocytes regulate macrophages in periodontal disease AU - Zhao, Jing AU - Birjandi, Anahid A AU - Ahmed, Mohi AU - Redhead, Yushi AU - Olea, Jose Villagomez AU - Sharpe, Paul A2 - Benayoun, Bérénice A A2 - Isales, Carlos A2 - Sugimura, Rio VL - 11 PY - 2022 DA - 2022/10/04 SP - e72128 C1 - eLife 2022;11:e72128 DO - 10.7554/eLife.72128 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.72128 AB - Telocytes (TCs) or interstitial cells are characterised in vivo by their long projections that contact other cell types. Although telocytes can be found in many different tissues including the heart, lung, and intestine, their tissue-specific roles are poorly understood. Here we identify a specific cell signalling role for telocytes in the periodontium whereby telocytes regulate macrophage activity. We performed scRNA-seq and lineage tracing to identify telocytes and macrophages in mouse periodontium in homeostasis and periodontitis and carried out hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signalling inhibition experiments using tivantinib. We show that telocytes are quiescent in homeostasis; however, they proliferate and serve as a major source of HGF in periodontitis. Macrophages receive telocyte-derived HGF signals and shift from an M1 to an M1/M2 state. Our results reveal the source of HGF signals in periodontal tissue and provide new insights into the function of telocytes in regulating macrophage behaviour in periodontitis through HGF/Met cell signalling, which may provide a novel approach in periodontitis treatment. KW - telocytes KW - periodontitis KW - macrophages JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -