Increased MDSC accumulation and Th2 biased response to influenza A virus infection in the absence of TLR7 in mice

PLoS One. 2011;6(9):e25242. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025242. Epub 2011 Sep 23.

Abstract

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the induction of innate and adaptive immune response against influenza A virus (IAV) infection; however, the role of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) during the innate immune response to IAV infection and the cell types affected by the absence of TLR7 are not clearly understood. In this study, we show that myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) accumulate in the lungs of TLR7 deficient mice more so than in wild-type C57Bl/6 mice, and display increased cytokine expression. Furthermore, there is an increase in production of Th2 cytokines by TLR7(-/-) compared with wildtype CD4+ T-cells in vivo, leading to a Th2 polarized humoral response. Our findings indicate that TLR7 modulates the accumulation of MDSCs during an IAV infection in mice, and that lack of TLR7 signaling leads to a Th2-biased response.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myeloid Cells / cytology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7