miR-155 promotes T follicular helper cell accumulation during chronic, low-grade inflammation

Immunity. 2014 Oct 16;41(4):605-19. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2014.09.015.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to most life-shortening human diseases. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that sustain chronic inflammatory responses remain poorly understood, making it difficult to treat this deleterious condition. Using a mouse model of age-dependent inflammation that results from a deficiency in miR-146a, we demonstrate that miR-155 contributed to the progressive inflammatory disease that emerged as Mir146a(-/-) mice grew older. Upon analyzing lymphocytes from inflamed versus healthy middle-aged mice, we found elevated numbers of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, germinal center (GC) B cells, and autoantibodies, all occurring in a miR-155-dependent manner. Further, Cd4-cre Mir155(fl/fl) mice were generated and demonstrated that miR-155 functions in T cells, in addition to its established role in B cells, to promote humoral immunity in a variety of contexts. Taken together, our study discovers that miR-146a and miR-155 counterregulate Tfh cell development that drives aberrant GC reactions during chronic inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / biosynthesis
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fos-Related Antigen-2 / genetics
  • Germinal Center / cytology
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / immunology*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Fos-Related Antigen-2
  • Fosl2 protein, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn146 microRNA, mouse
  • Mirn155 microRNA, mouse
  • RNA, Small Interfering

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE58373