Critical role of fatty acid metabolism in ILC2-mediated barrier protection during malnutrition and helminth infection

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) play an important role in many immune processes, including control of infections, inflammation, and tissue repair. To date, little is known about the metabolism of ILC and whether these cells can metabolically adapt in response to environmental signals. Here we show that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of experimental medicine 2016-07, Vol.213 (8), p.1409-1418
Main Authors: Wilhelm, Christoph, Harrison, Oliver J, Schmitt, Vanessa, Pelletier, Martin, Spencer, Sean P, Urban, Jr, Joseph F, Ploch, Michelle, Ramalingam, Thirumalai R, Siegel, Richard M, Belkaid, Yasmine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Fatty Acids - immunology
Helminthiasis - genetics
Helminthiasis - immunology
Helminthiasis - parasitology
Immunity, Innate
Interleukin-13 - immunology
Lymphocytes - immunology
Malnutrition - genetics
Malnutrition - immunology
Malnutrition - parasitology
Mice
Mice, Knockout
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Summary:Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) play an important role in many immune processes, including control of infections, inflammation, and tissue repair. To date, little is known about the metabolism of ILC and whether these cells can metabolically adapt in response to environmental signals. Here we show that type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), important mediators of barrier immunity, predominantly depend on fatty acid (FA) metabolism during helminth infection. Further, in situations where an essential nutrient, such as vitamin A, is limited, ILC2 sustain their function and selectively maintain interleukin 13 (IL-13) production via increased acquisition and utilization of FA. Together, these results reveal that ILC2 preferentially use FAs to maintain their function in the context of helminth infection or malnutrition and propose that enhanced FA usage and FA-dependent IL-13 production by ILC2 could represent a host adaptation to maintain barrier immunity under dietary restriction.
ISSN:0022-1007
1540-9538
DOI:10.1084/jem.20151448