title: Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) monitors commensal bacteria and induces an immune response that prevents experimental colitis.
abstract: RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) activate host innate immune responses against virus infection through recruiting the mitochondrial adaptor protein MAVS (also known as IPS1, VISA, or CARDIF). Here we show that MAVS also plays a pivotal role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. We found that MAVS knockout mice developed more severe mortality and morbidity than WT animals in an experimental model of colitis. Bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed that MAVS in cells of nonhematopoietic origin plays a dominant role in the protection against colitis. Importantly, RNA species derived from intestinal commensal bacteria activate the RIG-I-MAVS pathway to induce the production of multiple cytokines and antimicrobial peptides, including IFN-β and RegIIIγ. These results unveil a previously unexplored role of MAVS in monitoring intestinal commensal bacteria and maintaining tissue homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Hsin
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Anisa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Cassie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wight-Carter
authors.forename: Lora V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Zhijian J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000276:immunology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; C512612:MAVS protein, mouse; C507780:Myd88 protein, mouse; C503356:Ddx58 protein, mouse