Title | The Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cell Defect in Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Deficient Mice Is Associated with T Cell Hyperactivation during Intestinal Infection. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Wagage, S, Pritchard, GHarms, Dawson, L, Buza, EL, Sonnenberg, GF, Hunter, CA |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 10 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | e0128335 |
Date Published | 2015 |
ISSN | 1932-6203 |
Keywords | Animals, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Immunity, Innate, Interleukins, Intestinal Diseases, Mice, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3, Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon, T-Lymphocytes, Toxoplasma, Toxoplasmosis, Animal |
Abstract | Intestinal infection with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii results in the translocation of commensal bacteria to peripheral organs and the development of a T cell response specific to the microbiota. In naïve mice, the recently described RORγt+ group 3 innate lymphoid cell (ILC) population plays a critical role in promoting intestinal barrier function and limiting responses to gut-resident commensal bacteria. Given this role for group 3 ILCs, studies were performed to evaluate whether these cells might influence the immune response to mucosal infection with T. gondii. Phenotypic characterization of RORγt+ ILCs in T. gondii infected mice revealed that this population decreased following challenge but the population that remained expressed costimulatory molecules and IL-22. One factor that influences the maintenance of RORγt+ ILCs is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, and Ahr-/- mice have a marked defect in the lamina propria group 3 ILC population. When Ahr-/- mice were challenged with T. gondii, they lost more weight than wild type controls. This disease course in Ahr-/- animals was associated with increased T cell responses to Toxoplasma antigen and crude commensal antigen preparations. Together, these data suggest that group 3 ILCs have a role in limiting T cell activation during intestinal infection. |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0128335 |
Alternate Journal | PLoS ONE |
PubMed ID | 26010337 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4444139 |
Grant List | P30 CA016520 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01 AI110201 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States T32 AI007532 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States NIHR01AI-110201 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States |