Pathological changes in the gut could initiate autoimmune diabetes microbiota-specific manner

The mouse strain, NOD, has been used to study the mechanism of type 1 diabetes (T1D). These mice spontaneously develop autoimmune diabetes though it is not clear how islet-specific T cells get activated. To track autoimmune T cell fate, TCR transgenic mice, BDC2.5XNOD, have been used. These mice harbor islet-specific TCR expressing T cells in high numbers that are easily monitored.

A new study in PNAS did some experiments on BDC2.5XNOD mice to understand the initiation of autoimmunity. First, they showed that the NOD background showed increased gut wall barrier permeability by measuring the FITC-dextran level in the blood after oral application (though they did not show the same permeability test for BDC2.5XNOD mice).

Interestingly, BDC2.5XNOD mice do not develop spontaneous autoimmune diabetes. However, oral application of low-dose dextran-sulfate sodium (DSS) activates T cells and initiates diabetes.

 

Diabetes, however, does not develop if DSS-treated BDC2.5XNOD mice are depleted of endogenous microbiota or if naive BDC2.5XNOD mice received DSS-modified microbiota.

In summary, this study showed that both gut inflammation and microbiota are necessary for the initiation of autoimmune diabetes in BDC2.5XNOD mice. The most likely scenario is that changes introduced by DSS allow endogenous microbiota to activate islet-specific T cells via cross-reactive antigens. DSS modifies both gut wall permeability and microbiota. Both of these phenomena have been observed by the authors. They conclude that "restoration of a healthy gut barrier through microbiota and diet modulation in diabetes-prone individuals could ultimately reduce intestinal activation of islet-reactive T cells and prevent T1D occurrence".

Others, in news/views for this article, even suggested using antibiotics to deplete endogenous microbiota, but in my opinion, this is a premature suggestion because the authors did not show that microbiota depletion after diabetes has already developed could stop it.

posted by David Usharauli

Innate help to Tregs in the gut

New study in @Nature indicates gut #ILC3 (type 3 innate lymphoid cells) produce IL-2 for #FOXP3+ Tregs. Is it relevant? lets discuss it. #Immunology #tolerance #microbiota https://t.co/iziPJb09Zy

— David Usharauli (@3DiMMUNE) April 3, 2019

2. Interestingly, the #frequency of IL-2-producing ILC3s was depended on the presence of #microbiota. Specifically, the authors showed that #cytokine IL-1 produced by #macrophages signaled ILC3 to produce IL-2. #MyD88 was involved (it is needed to produce IL-1 anyway). pic.twitter.com/dGb66Pqnwt

— David Usharauli (@3DiMMUNE) April 3, 2019

4. However, it is clear that IL-2 inactivation in NCR1-cre mouse is not clean and some ILC3 retain a capacity to secrete IL-2 (otherwise there should not be any IL-2+ ILC3 in this graph). pic.twitter.com/Zwbz2dDP3n

— David Usharauli (@3DiMMUNE) April 3, 2019

6. To complete the story the authors showed that individuals with #Crohn's disease harbor fewer ILC3 that produce IL-2 to feed Tregs in the small intestine suggesting that one reason why CDs could generate #inflammatory condition. pic.twitter.com/k2LN2LeMFe

— David Usharauli (@3DiMMUNE) April 3, 2019

in summary, this study showed that ILC3-produced IL-2 could support Treg functionality in the small intestine. This cooperation between ILC3 and Tregs appears to be antigen-nonspecific as mice with ILC3 deficient for MHCII does not show changes in Tregs. 1/3

— David Usharauli (@3DiMMUNE) April 3, 2019

I like to point out that out of so many figures only 1 figure shows a reduction of Treg numbers in the small intestine that supports the authors' claims of the role of ILC3-derived IL-2 in Treg homeostasis, the rest are shown as % (not optimal) or does not support claims. 3/3

— David Usharauli (@3DiMMUNE) April 3, 2019

Newborns' resistance to pneumonia is driven by acquired microbiota

This week Science Translational Medicine published new study that showed that in newborn mice resistance to pneumonia is driven by neonatally acquired microbiota. It revealed how antibiotic therapy given to mothers near time of delivery could alter and weaken baby's defenses against airway pathogens.

Newborn mice derived from germ-free or from antibiotic-exposed pregnant mice display increased susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A-induced pneumonia that could be reversed by microflora.

Application of epithelial-focused cytokine IL-22 had similar effect on reversing newborn mice susceptibility to pneumonia.

In the lungs of newborn mice, majority of IL-22 is made by RORgt+ group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3).

Antibiotic therapy of pregnant mice reduced IL-22+ ILC3 population in the newborn lungs that could be reversed by microflora.

Moreover, depletion of endogenous ILC3 increased host's susceptibility to pneumonia that could be reversed by adoptive transfer of WT ILC3.

In summary, this study showed that antibiotic therapy of pregnant females at the time of delivery could profoundly affect newborns' ability to mount proper defense against airway pathogens by depleting microflora and disrupting microflora → ILC3 → IL-22 axis.


David Usharauli