IL-36R signaling integrates innate and adaptive immune-mediated protection against enteropathogenic bacteria
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Authors: Ngo, Vu L.; Abo, Hirohito; Kuczma, Michal; Szurek, Edyta; Moore, Nora; Medina-Contreras, Oscar; Nusrat, Asma; Merlin, Didier; Gewirtz, Andrew T.; Ignatowicz, Leszek; Denning, Timothy L.
Abstract
Enteropathogenic bacterial infections are a global health issue associated with high mortality, particularly in developing countries. Efficient host protection against enteropathogenic bacterial infection is characterized by coordinated responses between immune and nonimmune cells. In response to infection in mice, innate immune cells are activated to produce interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-22, which promote antimicrobial peptide (AMP) production and bacterial clearance. IL-36 cytokines are proinflammatory IL-1 superfamily members, yet their role in enteropathogenic bacterial infection remains poorly defined. Using the enteric mouse pathogen, C. rodentium, we demonstrate that signaling via IL-36 receptor (IL-36R) orchestrates a crucial innate-adaptive immune link to control bacterial infection. IL-36R-deficient mice (Il1rl2(-/-)) exhibited significant impairment in expression of IL-22 and AMPs, increased intestinal damage, and failed to contain C. rodentium compared to controls. These defects were associated with failure to induce IL-23 and IL-6, two key IL-22 inducers in the early and late phases of infection, respectively. Treatment of Il1rl2(-/-) mice with IL-23 during the early phase of C. rodentium infection rescued IL-22 production from group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), whereas IL-6 administration during the late phase rescued IL-22-mediated production from CD4(+) T cell, and both treatments protected Il1rl2(-/-) mice from uncontained infection. Furthermore, IL-36R-mediated IL-22 production by CD4(+) T cells was dependent upon NF kappa B-p65 and IL-6 expression in dendritic cells (DCs), as well as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression by CD4(+) T cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the IL-36 signaling pathway integrates innate and adaptive immunity leading to host defense against enteropathogenic bacterial infection.
Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Engulfment Reveals Metastatic Advantage in Breast Cancer
CELL REPORTS
Authors: Chen, Yu-Chih; Gonzalez, Maria E.; Burman, Boris; Zhao, Xintao; Anwar, Talha; Mai Tran; Medhora, Natasha; Hiziroglu, Ayse B.; Lee, Woncheol; Cheng, Yu-Heng; Choi, Yehyun; Yoon, Euisik; Kleer, Celina G.
Abstract
Twenty percent of breast cancer (BC) patients develop distant metastasis for which there is no cure. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in the tumor microenvironment were shown to stimulate metastasis, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified and quantified cancer cells engulfing stromal cells in clinical samples of BC metastasis by dual immunostaining for EZH2 and ALDH1 expression. Using flow cytometry and a microfluidic single-cell paring and retrieval platform, we show that MSC engulfment capacity is associated with BC cell metastatic potential and generates cells with mesenchymal-like, invasion, and stem cell traits. Whole-transcriptome analyses of selectively retrieved engulfing BC cells identify a gene signature of MSC engulfment consisting of WNT5A, MSR1, ELMO1, IL1RL2,ZPLD1, and SIRPB1. These results delineate a mechanism by which MSCs in the tumor microenvironment promote metastasis and provide a microfluidic platform with the potential to predict BC metastasis in clinical samples.