[HTML][HTML] Type I interferons induce T regulatory 1 responses and restrict humoral immunity during experimental malaria

RA Zander, JJ Guthmiller, AC Graham, RL Pope… - PLoS …, 2016 - journals.plos.org
RA Zander, JJ Guthmiller, AC Graham, RL Pope, BE Burke, DJJ Carr, NS Butler
PLoS pathogens, 2016journals.plos.org
CD4 T cell-dependent antibody responses are essential for limiting Plasmodium parasite
replication and the severity of malaria; however, the factors that regulate humoral immunity
during highly inflammatory, Th1-biased systemic infections are poorly understood. Using
genetic and biochemical approaches, we show that Plasmodium infection-induced type I
interferons limit T follicular helper accumulation and constrain anti-malarial humoral
immunity. Mechanistically we show that CD4 T cell-intrinsic type I interferon signaling …
CD4 T cell-dependent antibody responses are essential for limiting Plasmodium parasite replication and the severity of malaria; however, the factors that regulate humoral immunity during highly inflammatory, Th1-biased systemic infections are poorly understood. Using genetic and biochemical approaches, we show that Plasmodium infection-induced type I interferons limit T follicular helper accumulation and constrain anti-malarial humoral immunity. Mechanistically we show that CD4 T cell-intrinsic type I interferon signaling induces T-bet and Blimp-1 expression, thereby promoting T regulatory 1 responses. We further show that the secreted effector cytokines of T regulatory 1 cells, IL-10 and IFN-γ, collaborate to restrict T follicular helper accumulation, limit parasite-specific antibody responses, and diminish parasite control. This circuit of interferon-mediated Blimp-1 induction is also operational during chronic virus infection and can occur independently of IL-2 signaling. Thus, type I interferon-mediated induction of Blimp-1 and subsequent expansion of T regulatory 1 cells represent generalizable features of systemic, inflammatory Th1-biased viral and parasitic infections that are associated with suppression of humoral immunity.
PLOS