Winter, Sebastian E.2020-09-012020-09-012018-082018-08-21August 201https://hdl.handle.net/2152.5/8809Vitamin A is a dietary component that is essential for the development of intestinal immunity. Vitamin A is absorbed and converted to its bioactive derivatives retinol and retinoic acid by the intestinal epithelium, yet little is known about how epithelial cells regulate vitamin A-dependent intestinal immunity. Here I show that epithelial cell expression of the transcription factor retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) is essential for vitamin A-dependent intestinal immunity. Epithelial RARβ activated vitamin A-dependent expression of serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins by binding directly to Saa promoters. In accordance with the known role of SAAs in regulating Th17 cell effector function, epithelial RARβ promoted IL-17 production by intestinal Th17 cells. More broadly, epithelial RARβ was required for the development of key vitamin A-dependent adaptive immune responses, including CD4+ T cell homing to the intestine and the development of immunoglobulin A-producing intestinal B cells. My findings provide insight into how the intestinal epithelium senses dietary vitamin A status to regulate adaptive immunity and highlight the role of epithelial cells in regulating intestinal immunity in response to diet.application/pdfenImmunity, MucosalIntestinal MucosaReceptors, Retinoic AcidSerum Amyloid A ProteinVitamin AThesis2020-09-011192326114