[PDF][PDF] miR-155 promotes T follicular helper cell accumulation during chronic, low-grade inflammation

R Hu, DA Kagele, TB Huffaker, MC Runtsch… - Immunity, 2014 - cell.com
R Hu, DA Kagele, TB Huffaker, MC Runtsch, M Alexander, J Liu, E Bake, W Su, MA Williams
Immunity, 2014cell.com
Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to most life-shortening human diseases.
However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that sustain chronic inflammatory
responses remain poorly understood, making it difficult to treat this deleterious condition.
Using a mouse model of age-dependent inflammation that results from a deficiency in miR-
146a, we demonstrate that miR-155 contributed to the progressive inflammatory disease that
emerged as Mir146a−/− mice grew older. Upon analyzing lymphocytes from inflamed versus …
Summary
Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to most life-shortening human diseases. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that sustain chronic inflammatory responses remain poorly understood, making it difficult to treat this deleterious condition. Using a mouse model of age-dependent inflammation that results from a deficiency in miR-146a, we demonstrate that miR-155 contributed to the progressive inflammatory disease that emerged as Mir146a−/− mice grew older. Upon analyzing lymphocytes from inflamed versus healthy middle-aged mice, we found elevated numbers of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, germinal center (GC) B cells, and autoantibodies, all occurring in a miR-155-dependent manner. Further, Cd4-cre Mir155fl/fl mice were generated and demonstrated that miR-155 functions in T cells, in addition to its established role in B cells, to promote humoral immunity in a variety of contexts. Taken together, our study discovers that miR-146a and miR-155 counterregulate Tfh cell development that drives aberrant GC reactions during chronic inflammation.
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