Interleukin-7 (IL-7) engages multiple mechanisms to overcome chronic viral infections, but the role of IL-7 in bacterial infections, especially enteric bacterial infections, remains unclear. Here we characterized the previously unexplored role of IL-7 in the innate immune response to the attaching and effacing bacteriumCitrobacter rodentium.C. rodentiuminfection induced IL-7 production from intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). IL-7 production from IECs in response toC. rodentiumwas dependent on gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing NK1.1+cells and IL-12. Treatment with anti-IL-7Rα antibody duringC. rodentiuminfection resulted in a higher bacterial burden, enhanced intestinal damage, and greater weight loss and mortality than observed with the control IgG treatment. IEC-produced IL-7 was only essential for protective immunity againstC. rodentiumduring the first 6 days after infection. An impaired bacterial clearance upon IL-7Rα blockade was associated with a significant decrease in macrophage accumulation and activation in the colon. Moreover,C. rodentium-induced expansion and activation of intestinal CD4+lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells was completely abrogated by IL-7Rα blockade. Collectively, these data demonstrate that IL-7 is produced by IECs in response toC. rodentiuminfection and plays a critical role in the protective immunity against this intestinal attaching and effacing bacterium.
Interleukin-7 Produced by Intestinal Epithelial Cells in Response to Citrobacter rodentium Infection Plays a Major Role in Innate Immunity against This Pathogen
