A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner

Summary: Sepsis, a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units worldwide, lacks effective treatments for advanced-stage sepsis. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of this disease is crucial. This study reveals that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have an opposing role...

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Main Authors: Yingyu Qin, Yilin Qian, Shengqiu Liu, Rong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004224026890
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author Yingyu Qin
Yilin Qian
Shengqiu Liu
Rong Chen
author_facet Yingyu Qin
Yilin Qian
Shengqiu Liu
Rong Chen
author_sort Yingyu Qin
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Sepsis, a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units worldwide, lacks effective treatments for advanced-stage sepsis. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of this disease is crucial. This study reveals that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have an opposing role in the progression of sepsis by suppressing regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation and function. The activation of iNKT cells by α-Galcer enhances interferon (IFN)-γ production. Blocking antibodies or transferring IFN-γ-deficient iNKT cells demonstrates that iNKT cells inhibit Treg differentiation through IFN-γ production. Additionally, iNKT cell-mediated Treg inhibition prevents secondary infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes during the post-septic phase. The transcriptomic analysis of Treg cells further reveals that the suppressive function of Tregs is impaired by iNKT cells. Finally, we demonstrate that iNKT cells inhibit Treg differentiation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner. Our data uncover the dual function of iNKT cells in sepsis progression and provide a potential treatment target for this adverse long-term outcome induced by sepsis.
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spelling doaj-art-bb544f282d8745dfb56265d43e60f9282024-12-22T05:29:26ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422024-12-012712111462A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent mannerYingyu Qin0Yilin Qian1Shengqiu Liu2Rong Chen3Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding authorDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Corresponding authorSummary: Sepsis, a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units worldwide, lacks effective treatments for advanced-stage sepsis. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of this disease is crucial. This study reveals that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have an opposing role in the progression of sepsis by suppressing regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation and function. The activation of iNKT cells by α-Galcer enhances interferon (IFN)-γ production. Blocking antibodies or transferring IFN-γ-deficient iNKT cells demonstrates that iNKT cells inhibit Treg differentiation through IFN-γ production. Additionally, iNKT cell-mediated Treg inhibition prevents secondary infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes during the post-septic phase. The transcriptomic analysis of Treg cells further reveals that the suppressive function of Tregs is impaired by iNKT cells. Finally, we demonstrate that iNKT cells inhibit Treg differentiation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner. Our data uncover the dual function of iNKT cells in sepsis progression and provide a potential treatment target for this adverse long-term outcome induced by sepsis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004224026890Biological sciencesImmune responseImmune systemImmunologyNatural sciences
spellingShingle Yingyu Qin
Yilin Qian
Shengqiu Liu
Rong Chen
A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner
iScience
Biological sciences
Immune response
Immune system
Immunology
Natural sciences
title A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner
title_full A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner
title_fullStr A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner
title_full_unstemmed A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner
title_short A double-edged sword role of IFN-γ-producing iNKT cells in sepsis: Persistent suppression of Treg cell formation in an Nr4a1-dependent manner
title_sort double edged sword role of ifn γ producing inkt cells in sepsis persistent suppression of treg cell formation in an nr4a1 dependent manner
topic Biological sciences
Immune response
Immune system
Immunology
Natural sciences
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004224026890
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