Structural insights into the assembly of gp130 family cytokine signaling complexes.

The interleukin-6 (IL-6) family cytokines signal through gp130 receptor homodimerization or heterodimerization with a second signaling receptor and play crucial roles in various cellular processes. We determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of five signaling complexes of this family, containing full receptor ectodomains bound to their respective ligands ciliary neurotrophic factor, cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1), leukemia inhibitory factor, IL-27, and IL-6. Our structures collectively reveal similarities and differences in the assembly of these complexes. The acute bends at both signaling receptors in all complexes bring the membrane-proximal domains to a ~30 angstrom range but with distinct distances and orientations. We also reveal how CLCF1 engages its secretion chaperone cytokine receptor-like factor 1. Our data provide valuable insights for therapeutically targeting gp130-mediated signaling.

Infection-elicited microbiota promotes host adaptation to nutrient restriction.

The microbiota performs multiple functions vital to host fitness, including defense against pathogens and adaptation to dietary changes. Yet, how environmental challenges shape microbiota resilience to nutrient fluctuation remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that transient gut infection can optimize host metabolism toward the usage of carbohydrates. Following acute infection and clearance of the pathogen, mice gained more weight as a result of white adipose tissue expansion. Concomitantly, previously infected mice exhibited enhanced carbohydrate (glucose) disposal and insulin sensitivity. This metabolic remodeling depended on alterations to the gut microbiota, with infection-elicited Betaproteobacteria being sufficient to enhance host carbohydrate metabolism. Further, infection-induced metabolic alteration protected mice against stunting in the context of limited nutrient availability. Together, these results propose that alterations to the microbiota imposed by acute infection may enhance host fitness and survival in the face of nutrient restriction, a phenomenon that may be adaptive in settings where both infection burden and food precarity are prevalent.

Regulatory T cells as a therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel disease.

Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells suppress inflammation and are essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis. A growing appreciation of tissue-specific Treg functions has built interest in leveraging the endogenous suppressive mechanisms of these cells into cellular therapeutics in organ-specific diseases. Notably, Treg cells play a critical role in maintaining the intestinal environment. As a barrier site, the gut requires Treg cells to mediate interactions with the microbiota, support barrier integrity, and regulate the immune system. Without fully functional Treg cells, intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis ensue. Thus, there is a particular interest in developing Treg cellular therapies for intestinal inflammatory disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This article reviews some of the critical pathways that are dysregulated in IBD, Treg cell mechanisms of suppression, and the efforts and approaches in the field to develop these cells as a cellular therapy for IBD.

White Adipose Tissue Is a Reservoir for Memory T Cells and Promotes Protective Memory Responses to Infection.

White adipose tissue bridges body organs and plays a fundamental role in host metabolism. To what extent adipose tissue also contributes to immune surveillance and long-term protective defense remains largely unknown. Here, we have shown that at steady state, white adipose tissue contained abundant memory lymphocyte populations. After infection, white adipose tissue accumulated large numbers of pathogen-specific memory T cells, including tissue-resident cells. Memory T cells in white adipose tissue expressed a distinct metabolic profile, and white adipose tissue from previously infected mice was sufficient to protect uninfected mice from lethal pathogen challenge. Induction of recall responses within white adipose tissue was associated with the collapse of lipid metabolism in favor of antimicrobial responses. Our results suggest that white adipose tissue represents a memory T cell reservoir that provides potent and rapid effector memory responses, positioning this compartment as a potential major contributor to immunological memory.

T Regulatory Cells Support Plasma Cell Populations in the Bone Marrow.

Long-lived plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow (BM) are a critical source of antibodies after infection or vaccination, but questions remain about the factors that control PCs. We found that systemic infection alters the BM, greatly reducing PCs and regulatory T (Treg) cells, a population that contributes to immune privilege in the BM. The use of intravital imaging revealed that BM Treg cells display a distinct behavior characterized by sustained co-localization with PCs and CD11c-YFP+ cells. Gene expression profiling indicated that BM Treg cells express high levels of Treg effector molecules, and CTLA-4 deletion in these cells resulted in elevated PCs. Furthermore, preservation of Treg cells during systemic infection prevents PC loss, while Treg cell depletion in uninfected mice reduced PC populations. These studies suggest a role for Treg cells in PC biology and provide a potential target for the modulation of PCs during vaccine-induced humoral responses or autoimmunity.

Microbiota-Dependent Sequelae of Acute Infection Compromise Tissue-Specific Immunity.

Infections have been proposed as initiating factors for inflammatory disorders; however, identifying associations between defined infectious agents and the initiation of chronic disease has remained elusive. Here, we report that a single acute infection can have dramatic and long-term consequences for tissue-specific immunity. Following clearance of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, sustained inflammation and associated lymphatic leakage in the mesenteric adipose tissue deviates migratory dendritic cells to the adipose compartment, thereby preventing their accumulation in the mesenteric lymph node. As a consequence, canonical mucosal immune functions, including tolerance and protective immunity, are persistently compromised. Post-resolution of infection, signals derived from the microbiota maintain inflammatory mesentery remodeling and consequently, transient ablation of the microbiota restores mucosal immunity. Our results indicate that persistent disruption of communication between tissues and the immune system following clearance of an acute infection represents an inflection point beyond which tissue homeostasis and immunity is compromised for the long-term. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Diverse roles for T-bet in the effector responses required for resistance to infection.

The transcription factor T-bet has been most prominently linked to NK and T cell production of IFN-γ, a cytokine required for the control of a diverse array of intracellular pathogens. Indeed, in mice challenged with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, NK and T cell responses are characterized by marked increases of T-bet expression. Unexpectedly, T-bet(-/-) mice infected with T. gondii develop a strong NK cell IFN-γ response that controls parasite replication at the challenge site, but display high parasite burdens at secondary sites colonized by T. gondii and succumb to infection. The loss of T-bet had a modest effect on T cell production of IFN-γ but did not impact on the generation of parasite-specific T cells. However, the absence of T-bet resulted in lower T cell expression of CD11a, Ly6C, KLRG-1, and CXCR3 and fewer parasite-specific T cells at secondary sites of infection, associated with a defect in parasite control at these sites. Together, these data highlight T-bet-independent pathways to IFN-γ production and reveal a novel role for this transcription factor in coordinating the T cell responses necessary to control this infection in peripheral tissues.

Infection-induced changes in hematopoiesis.

The bone marrow (BM) is an important site for the interrelated processes of hematopoiesis, granulopoiesis, erythropoiesis, and lymphopoiesis. A wide variety of microbial challenges are associated with profound changes in this compartment that impact on hematopoietic differentiation and mobilization of a variety of cell types. This article reviews some of the key pathways that control BM homeostasis, the infectious and inflammatory processes that affect the BM, and how addressing the knowledge gaps in this area has the potential to widen our comprehension of immune homeostasis.

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii alters lymphotoxin expression associated with changes in splenic architecture.

B cell responses are required for resistance to Toxoplasma gondii; however, the events that lead to production of class-switched antibodies during T. gondii infection have not been defined. Indeed, mice challenged with the parasite exhibited an expansion of T follicular helper cells and germinal center B cells in the spleen. Unexpectedly, this was not associated with germinal center formation and was instead accompanied by profound changes in splenic organization. This phenomenon was transient and was correlated with a decrease in expression of effector proteins that contribute to splenic organization, including lymphotoxins α and ß. The importance of lymphotoxin was confirmed, as the use of a lymphotoxin ß receptor agonist results in partial restoration of splenic structure. Splenectomized mice were used to test the splenic contribution to the antibody response during T. gondii infection. Analysis of splenectomized mice revealed delayed kinetics in the production of parasite-specific antibody, but the mice did eventually develop normal levels of parasite-specific antibody. Together, these studies provide a better understanding of how infection with T. gondii impacts the customized structures required for the optimal humoral responses to the parasite and the role of lymphotoxin in these events.

T follicular helper cells differentiate from Th2 cells in response to helminth antigens.

The relationship of T follicular helper (TFH) cells to other T helper (Th) subsets is controversial. We find that after helminth infection, or immunization with helminth antigens, reactive lymphoid organs of 4get IL-4/GFP reporter mice contain populations of IL-4/GFP-expressing CD4(+) T cells that display the TFH markers CXCR5, PD-1, and ICOS. These TFH cells express the canonical TFH markers BCL6 and IL-21, but also GATA3, the master regulator of Th2 cell differentiation. Consistent with a relationship between Th2 and TFH cells, IL-4 protein production, reported by expression of huCD2 in IL-4 dual reporter (4get/KN2) mice, was a robust marker of TFH cells in LNs responding to helminth antigens. Moreover, the majority of huCD2/IL-4-producing Th cells were found within B cell follicles, consistent with their definition as TFH cells. TFH cell development after immunization failed to occur in mice lacking B cells or CD154. The relationship of TFH cells to the Th2 lineage was confirmed when TFH cells were found to develop from CXCR5(-) PD-1(-) IL-4/GFP(+) CD4(+) T cells after their transfer into naive mice and antigen challenge in vivo.