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Direct Activation of Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling in Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Contributes to Inflammatory Responses of Allergic Diseases
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  • Li She,
  • Hamad H. Alanazi,
  • Yimin Xu,
  • Shuting Guo,
  • Qingquan Xiong,
  • Hui Jiang,
  • Kexin Mo,
  • Jingwei Wang,
  • Daniel P. Chupp,
  • Hong Zan,
  • Zhenming Xu,
  • Yilun Sun,
  • Na Xiong,
  • Nu Zhang,
  • Zhihai Xie,
  • Weihong Jiang,
  • Xin Zhang,
  • Yong Liu,
  • Xiao-Dong Li
Li She
Central South University
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Hamad H. Alanazi
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Yimin Xu
Central South University
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Shuting Guo
Guangzhou Medical University
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Qingquan Xiong
Guangzhou Medical University
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Hui Jiang
Guangzhou Medical University
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Kexin Mo
Guangzhou Medical University
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Jingwei Wang
Central South University
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Daniel P. Chupp
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Hong Zan
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Zhenming Xu
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Yilun Sun
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Na Xiong
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Nu Zhang
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics
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Zhihai Xie
Central South University
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Weihong Jiang
Central South University
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Xin Zhang
Central South University
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Yong Liu
Central South University
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Xiao-Dong Li
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) play a critical role in type 2 immunity. Although their classical activators are known to be host epithelial-derived alarmin cytokines released from tissue damage at barrier sites during microbial infections and allergen exposures, it remains elusive whether ILC2 cells can be directly activated by microbial ligands. Here we examined a number of microbial ligands and identified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from multiple species of Gram-negative bacteria potently stimulated the cultured human ILC2 to proliferate and produce massive amounts of type 2 effector cytokines IL-5 and IL-13. RNA-seq data revealed a remarkably similar set of type 2 immune responsive genes induced by LPS and IL-33. However, blocking IL-33 receptor signaling failed to decrease the effects of LPS. In contrast, blocking TLR4 receptor, NF-kB and JAK pathways completely abolished the growth and function of LPS-treated human ILC2. Furthermore, ILC2 cells of TLR4 deficient mice were unable to respond to LPS treatment in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, patients with allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and bacteremia had an increased number of peripheral blood ILC2 cells that correlated with elevated serum endotoxin. Collectively, these findings support a non-canonical mode of direct activation of human ILC2 cells via the LPS-TLR4-NF-kB/JAK signaling axis, which is independent of the classical IL-33-ST2 pathway. Thus, targeting TLR4 signaling pathway might be developed as an alternative approach to treat microbial infection-associated and ILC2-mediated inflammatory conditions.