Search

Whether conventional dendritic cells (cDC) acquire subset identity under direction of Wnt family glycoproteins is unknown. We demonstrate that Wnt4, a β-catenin-independent Wnt ligand, is produced by both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells and is both necessary and sufficient for preconventional DC1/cDC1 maintenance. Whereas bone marrow cDC precursors undergo phosphoJNK/c-Jun activation upon Wnt4 treatment, loss of cDC Wnt4 in CD11cCreWnt4flox/flox mice impaired differentiation of CD24+, Clec9A+, CD103+ cDC1 compared with CD11cCre controls. Conversely, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of bone marrow revealed a 2-fold increase in cDC2 gene signature genes, and flow cytometry demonstrated increased numbers of SIRP-α+ cDC2 amid lack of Wnt4. Increased cDC2 numbers due to CD11c-restricted Wnt4 deficiency increased IL-5 production, group 2 innate lymphoid cell expansion, and host resistance to the hookworm parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Collectively, these data uncover a novel and unexpected role for Wnt4 in cDC subset differentiation and type 2 immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How the metabolic demand of parasitism affects immune-mediated resistance is poorly understood. Immunity against parasitic helminths requires M2 cells and IL-13, secreted by CD4+ Th2 and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), but whether certain metabolic enzymes control disease outcome has not been addressed. This study demonstrates that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key driver of cellular energy, regulates type 2 immunity and restricts lung injury following hookworm infection. Mice with a selective deficiency in the AMPK catalytic α1 subunit in alveolar macrophages and conventional dendritic cells produced less IL-13 and CCL17 and had impaired expansion of ILC2 in damaged lung tissue compared with wild-type controls. Defective type 2 responses were marked by increased intestinal worm burdens, exacerbated lung injury, and increased production of IL-12/23p40, which, when neutralized, restored IL-13 production and improved lung recovery. Taken together, these data indicate that defective AMPK activity in myeloid cells negatively impacts type 2 responses through increased IL-12/23p40 production. These data support an emerging concept that myeloid cells and ILC2 can coordinately regulate tissue damage at mucosal sites through mechanisms dependent on metabolic enzyme function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]