Published February 2, 2021 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Extrafollicular CD4 T cell-derived IL-10 functions rapidly and transiently to support anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity

Description

Immunity against malaria depends on germinal center (GC)-derived antibody responses that are orchestrated by T follicular helper (TFH) cells. Emerging data show that the regulatory cytokine IL-10 plays an essential role in promoting GC B cell responses during both experimental malaria and virus infections. Here we investigated the cellular source and temporal role of IL-10, and whether IL-10 additionally signals to CD4 T-cells to support anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity. Distinct from reports of virus infection, we found that IL-10 was expressed by conventional, Foxp3-negative effector CD4 T cells and functioned in a B cell-intrinsic manner only during the first 96 hours of Plasmodium infection to support humoral immunity. The critical functions of IL-10 manifested only before the orchestration of GC responses and were primarily localized outside of B cell follicles. Mechanistically, our studies showed that the rapid and transient provision of IL-10 promoted B cell expression of anti-apoptotic factors, MHC class II, CD83, and cell-cell adhesion proteins that are essential for B cell survival and interaction with CD4 T cells. Together, our data reveal temporal features and mechanisms by which IL-10 critically supports humoral immunity during blood-stage Plasmodium infection, information that may be useful for developing new strategies designed to lessen the burden of malaria.

Data availability

All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files and the sequencing data are available in the Gene Expression Omnibus (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/) under accession number GSE154910.

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Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1371/journal.ppat.1009288
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:5985

Funding

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
R01AI125446
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
R01AI127481
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
T32AI007485
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
T32AI007511
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
P01AI097092
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
HHSN272201400005C
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
T32HL007605
National Science Foundation
DBI 1559927
National Center for Research Resources
S10OD016199
Australian Research Council
CE140100011
National Health and Medical Research Council
1113293
National Health and Medical Research Council
1154457
National Health and Medical Research Council
1139486
National Center for Research Resources
S10RR025439
National Cancer Institute
P30CA086862
National Center for Research Resources
S10OD016199

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Biological Sciences Division
Department(s)
Immunology, Medicine
Center(s) or Institute(s)
Gwen Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research