title: CD11b(+)Ly6C(++)Ly6G(-) Cells with Suppressive Activity Towards T Cells Accumulate in Lungs of Influenza a Virus-Infected Mice.
abstract: Influenza A virus (IAV) infection causes an acute respiratory disease characterized by a strong inflammatory immune response and severe immunopathology. Proinflammatory mechanisms are well described in the murine IAV infection model, but less is known about the mechanisms leading to the resolution of inflammation. Here, we analyzed the contribution of CD11b(+)Ly6C(++)Ly6G(-) cells to this process. An accumulation of CD11b(+)Ly6C(++)Ly6G(-) cells within the lungs was observed during the course of IAV infection. Phenotypic characterization of these CD11b(+)Ly6C(++)Ly6G(-) cells by flow cytometry and RNA-Seq revealed an activated phenotype showing both pro- and anti-inflammatory features, including the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by a fraction of cells in an IFN-γ-dependent manner. Moreover, CD11b(+)Ly6C(++)Ly6G(-) cells isolated from lungs of IAV-infected animals displayed suppressive activity when tested in vitro, and iNOS inhibitors could abrogate this suppressive activity. Collectively, our data suggest that during IAV infection, CD11b(+)Ly6C(++)Ly6G(-) cells acquire immunoregulatory function, which might contribute to the prevention of pathology during this life-threatening disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milanez-Almeida
authors.affiliation: Genomics and Immunoregulation, LIMES - Institute, University of Bonn , Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ulas
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasztoi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School , Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glage
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Genetics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Braunschweig, Germany , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schughart
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg , Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.affiliation: Genomics and Immunoregulation, LIMES - Institute, University of Bonn , Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schultze
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huehn
keywords: immunosuppression; inducible nitric oxide synthase; infection; influenza A virus; monocytes