Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota

Tolerance of enteric microbiota and clearance of potential pathogens is critical for gut homeostasis. We previously found that the healthy small intestine of mice contains discrete pockets of antiviral gene expression that depend on bacterial microbiota colonization and interferon lambda (IFN-λ) rec...

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Main Authors: David A. Constant, Jacob A. Van Winkle, Kimberly A. Meyer, Shelby R. Madden, Bryan Ramirez Reyes, Timothy J. Nice
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2024.2447830
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author David A. Constant
Jacob A. Van Winkle
Kimberly A. Meyer
Shelby R. Madden
Bryan Ramirez Reyes
Timothy J. Nice
author_facet David A. Constant
Jacob A. Van Winkle
Kimberly A. Meyer
Shelby R. Madden
Bryan Ramirez Reyes
Timothy J. Nice
author_sort David A. Constant
collection DOAJ
description Tolerance of enteric microbiota and clearance of potential pathogens is critical for gut homeostasis. We previously found that the healthy small intestine of mice contains discrete pockets of antiviral gene expression that depend on bacterial microbiota colonization and interferon lambda (IFN-λ) receptor expression by intestinal epithelial cells. We now use spatial transcriptomic profiling of homeostatic interferon response pockets to show that they contain a broader cytokine signature that is consistent with activation of innate immune sensors, including toll-like receptors (TLRs). Additionally, we find that these homeostatic innate immune responses are associated with increased local abundance of luminal bacteria, but not with particular bacterial species or overt defects in the epithelial barrier. We find that deficiency of the TLR adaptor MyD88 in hematopoietic cells significantly reduces the abundance of homeostatic innate immune pockets, and stimulation with the bacterial product lipopolysaccharide preferentially stimulates IFN-λ production by intestinal immune cells. We propose that localized increases in proximity of bacterial microbiota to intestinal epithelium result in increased homeostatic uptake of TLR ligands, which stimulates resident immune cells to produce cytokines, including IFN-λ. These localized innate immune responses enhance the immunological barrier, maintaining homeostasis with beneficial microbes and protecting against potential occult pathogens that may be present among the luminal microflora.
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spelling doaj-art-e077ff85b67644f0b49a3daab3d763412025-08-20T02:58:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2024.2447830Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiotaDavid A. Constant0Jacob A. Van Winkle1Kimberly A. Meyer2Shelby R. Madden3Bryan Ramirez Reyes4Timothy J. Nice5Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USATolerance of enteric microbiota and clearance of potential pathogens is critical for gut homeostasis. We previously found that the healthy small intestine of mice contains discrete pockets of antiviral gene expression that depend on bacterial microbiota colonization and interferon lambda (IFN-λ) receptor expression by intestinal epithelial cells. We now use spatial transcriptomic profiling of homeostatic interferon response pockets to show that they contain a broader cytokine signature that is consistent with activation of innate immune sensors, including toll-like receptors (TLRs). Additionally, we find that these homeostatic innate immune responses are associated with increased local abundance of luminal bacteria, but not with particular bacterial species or overt defects in the epithelial barrier. We find that deficiency of the TLR adaptor MyD88 in hematopoietic cells significantly reduces the abundance of homeostatic innate immune pockets, and stimulation with the bacterial product lipopolysaccharide preferentially stimulates IFN-λ production by intestinal immune cells. We propose that localized increases in proximity of bacterial microbiota to intestinal epithelium result in increased homeostatic uptake of TLR ligands, which stimulates resident immune cells to produce cytokines, including IFN-λ. These localized innate immune responses enhance the immunological barrier, maintaining homeostasis with beneficial microbes and protecting against potential occult pathogens that may be present among the luminal microflora.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2024.2447830Interferon lambdainnate immunityintestinal epithelium
spellingShingle David A. Constant
Jacob A. Van Winkle
Kimberly A. Meyer
Shelby R. Madden
Bryan Ramirez Reyes
Timothy J. Nice
Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
Gut Microbes
Interferon lambda
innate immunity
intestinal epithelium
title Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
title_full Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
title_fullStr Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
title_full_unstemmed Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
title_short Homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda-stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
title_sort homeostatic pockets of interferon lambda stimulated gene production in the intestine are associated with localized exposure to bacterial microbiota
topic Interferon lambda
innate immunity
intestinal epithelium
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2024.2447830
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