Fibrogenesis in chronic murine colitis is independent of innate lymphoid cells

Abstract Introduction Insight in the pathogenesis of intestinal fibrosis is an unmet medical need in inflammatory bowel diseases. Studies in murine models and human organ fibrosis point to a potential role of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) in chronic intestinal inflammation and fibrosis. Materials and Methods Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water was used to induce chronic colitis and remodeling in C57Bl/6 wild type (WT), RAG‐deficient, RAG−/− common γ chain deficient and anti‐CD90.2 monoclonal antibody treated RAG−/− mice. Inflammation was scored by macroscopic and histological examination and fibrosis was evaluated by hydroxyproline quantification and histology. Results In RAG−/− mice (which have a normal ILC population but no adaptive immunity), chronic intestinal inflammation and fibrosis developed similarly as in WT mice, with a relative increase in ILC2 during repeated DSS exposure. Chronic colitis could also be induced in the absence of ILC (RAG−/−γc−/− or anti‐CD90.2 treated RAG−/− mice) with no attenuation of fibrosis. Importantly, clinical recovery based on weight gain after stopping DSS exposure was impaired in ILC‐deficient or ILC‐depleted mice. Conclusion These data argue against a profibrotic effect of ILC in chronic colitis, but rather suggest that ILC have a protective and recovery‐enhancing effect after repeated intestinal injury.