title: IL-15 sustains IL-7R-independent ILC2 and ILC3 development.
abstract: The signals that maintain tissue-resident innate lymphoid cells (ILC) in different microenvironments are incompletely understood. Here we show that IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) is not strictly required for the development of any ILC subset, as residual cells persist in the small intestinal lamina propria (siLP) of adult and neonatal Il7ra-/-mice. Il7ra-/-ILC2 primarily express an ST2-phenotype, but are not inflammatory ILC2. CCR6+ILC3, which express higher Bcl-2 than other ILC3, are the most abundant subset in Il7ra-/-siLP. All ILC subsets are functionally competent in vitro, and are sufficient to provide enhanced protection to infection with C. rodentium. IL-15 equally sustains wild-type and Il7ra-/-ILC survival in vitro and compensates for IL-7R deficiency, as residual ILCs are depleted in mice lacking both molecules. Collectively, these data demonstrate that siLP ILCs are not completely IL-7R dependent, but can persist partially through IL-15 signalling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology &Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 509 S. Euclid Ave Box 8118, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0965-5225
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Robinette
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology &Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 509 S. Euclid Ave Box 8118, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology &Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 509 S. Euclid Ave Box 8118, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Wilbur
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology &Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 509 S. Euclid Ave Box 8118, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Ulland
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology &Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 509 S. Euclid Ave Box 8118, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilfillan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology &Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 509 S. Euclid Ave Box 8118, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colonna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7