Type 3 innate lymphoid cell-derived lymphotoxin prevents microbiota-dependent inflammation.

Splenomegaly is a well-known phenomenon typically associated with inflammation. However, the underlying cause of this phenotype has not been well characterized. Furthermore, the splenomegaly phenotype seen in lymphotoxin (LT) signaling-deficient mice is characterized by increased numbers of splenocytes and splenic neutrophils. Splenomegaly, as well as the related phenotype of increased lymphocyte counts in non-lymphoid tissues, is thought to result from the absence of secondary lymphoid tissues in LT-deficient mice. We now present evidence that mice deficient in LTα1ß2 or LTßR develop splenomegaly and increased numbers of lymphocytes in non-lymphoid tissues in a microbiota-dependent manner. Antibiotic administration to LTα1ß2- or LTßR-deficient mice reduces splenomegaly. Furthermore, re-derived germ-free Ltbr-/- mice do not exhibit splenomegaly or increased inflammation in non-lymphoid tissues compared to specific pathogen-free Ltbr-/- mice. By using various LTß- and LTßR-conditional knockout mice, we demonstrate that retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γT-positive type 3 innate lymphoid cells provide the required active LT signaling to prevent the development of splenomegaly. Thus, this study demonstrates the importance of LT-mediated immune responses for the prevention of splenomegaly and systemic inflammation induced by microbiota.

Cutting Edge: Lymphotoxin Signaling Is Essential for Clearance of Salmonella from the Gut Lumen and Generation of Anti-Salmonella Protective Immunity.

The immunological components that control resolution of Salmonella infection and successful vaccination are poorly defined. In a model of chronic gastrointestinal infection, we observed that the lymphotoxin (LT) pathway is essential for the clearance and resolution of primary infection of attenuated Salmonella enterica Typhimurium strain SL3261 ΔaroA Using gnotobiotic mice, we show that LTß receptor (LTßR) signaling and the microbiota are required to promote clearance of attenuated S. enterica Typhimurium from the gut lumen. We also found that LTßR signaling was required for successful immunization and subsequent protection upon challenge with a virulent strain of S enterica Typhimurium. LTßR signaling promoted the development of specific IgG recognizing S enterica Typhimurium during infection, as well as Ag-driven IFN-γ responses. B cell- and type 3 innate lymphoid cell-derived LT signaling, but not T cell-derived LT, contributes to anti-S enterica Typhimurium protective responses. Collectively, our results suggest that LT signaling is essential for multiple steps of anti-S enterica Typhimurium immune responses.