Pulmonary Th17 antifungal immunity is regulated by the gut microbiome

JP McAleer, NLH Nguyen, K Chen, P Kumar… - The Journal of …, 2016 - journals.aai.org
JP McAleer, NLH Nguyen, K Chen, P Kumar, DM Ricks, M Binnie, RA Armentrout…
The Journal of Immunology, 2016journals.aai.org
Commensal microbiota are critical for the development of local immune responses. In this
article, we show that gut microbiota can regulate CD4 T cell polarization during pulmonary
fungal infections. Vancomycin drinking water significantly decreased lung Th17 cell
numbers during acute infection, demonstrating that Gram-positive commensals contribute to
systemic inflammation. We next tested a role for RegIIIγ, an IL-22–inducible antimicrobial
protein with specificity for Gram-positive bacteria. Following infection, increased …
Abstract
Commensal microbiota are critical for the development of local immune responses. In this article, we show that gut microbiota can regulate CD4 T cell polarization during pulmonary fungal infections. Vancomycin drinking water significantly decreased lung Th17 cell numbers during acute infection, demonstrating that Gram-positive commensals contribute to systemic inflammation. We next tested a role for RegIIIγ, an IL-22–inducible antimicrobial protein with specificity for Gram-positive bacteria. Following infection, increased accumulation of Th17 cells in the lungs of RegIIIγ−/− and Il22−/− mice was associated with intestinal segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) colonization. Although gastrointestinal delivery of rRegIIIγ decreased lung inflammatory gene expression and protected Il22−/− mice from weight loss during infection, it had no direct effect on SFB colonization, fungal clearance, or lung Th17 immunity. We further show that vancomycin only decreased lung IL-17 production in mice colonized with SFB. To determine the link between gut microbiota and lung immunity, serum-transfer experiments revealed that IL-1R ligands increase the accumulation of lung Th17 cells. These data suggest that intestinal microbiota, including SFB, can regulate pulmonary adaptive immune responses.
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