Plasmacytoid dendritic cells promote HIV-1-induced group 3 innate lymphoid cell depletion

J Clin Invest. 2015 Sep;125(9):3692-703. doi: 10.1172/JCI82124. Epub 2015 Aug 24.

Abstract

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) have demonstrated roles in promoting antibacterial immunity, maintaining epithelial barrier function, and supporting tissue repair. ILC3 alterations are associated with chronic inflammation and inflammatory disease; however, the characteristics and relevant regulatory mechanisms of this cell population in HIV-1 infection are poorly understood due in part to a lack of a robust model. Here, we determined that functional human ILC3s develop in lymphoid organs of humanized mice and that persistent HIV-1 infection in this model depletes ILC3s, as observed in chronic HIV-1-infected patients. In HIV-1-infected mice, effective antiretroviral therapy reversed the loss of ILC3s. HIV-1-dependent reduction of ILC3s required plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), IFN-I, and the CD95/FasL pathway, as targeted depletion or blockade of these prevented HIV-1-induced ILC3 depletion in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Finally, we determined that HIV-1 infection induces CD95 expression on ILC3s via a pDC- and IFN-I-dependent mechanism that sensitizes ILC3s to undergo CD95/FasL-mediated apoptosis. We conclude that chronic HIV-1 infection depletes ILC3s through pDC activation, induction of IFN-I, and CD95-mediated apoptosis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fas Ligand Protein / immunology
  • Female
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interferon Type I / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Plasma Cells / pathology
  • fas Receptor / immunology

Substances

  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Fasl protein, mouse
  • Interferon Type I
  • fas Receptor