Type I IFN promotes pathogenic inflammatory monocyte maturation during H5N1 infection

Ly6Chi inflammatory monocytes show high IFN responses, and contribute to both protective and pathogenic functions following influenza virus infection. In order to understand the significance of IFN responses in this subset, we examined monocytes during infection with a lethal H5N1 virus that induces high levels of IFN and a low-pathogenicity H1N1 virus that induces low levels of IFN. We show that H5N1 infection results in early recruitment of high numbers of Ly6Chi monocytes and induction of chemokines and Ifnb1. Using unbiased transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, we also find that monocytes are significantly enriched during H5N1 infection and are associated with chemokine and IFN signatures in mice, and with severity of symptoms after influenza virus infection in humans. Recruited Ly6Chi monocytes subsequently become infected in the lung, produce IFN-β, and mature into FasL+ monocyte-derived cells (FasL+MCs) expressing dendritic cell markers. Both Ccr2-/- and Faslgld mice are protected from lethal infection, indicating that monocytes contribute to pathogenesis. Global loss of type I and type III IFN signaling in Stat2-/- mice results in loss of monocyte recruitment, likely reflecting a requirement for IFN-dependent chemokine induction. Here we show that IFN is not directly required for monocyte recruitment on an IFN-sufficient background, but is required for maturation to FasL+MCs. Loss of IFN signaling skews to a Ly6Clo phenotype associated with tissue repair, suggesting that IFN signaling in monocytes is a critical determinant of influenza virus pathogenesis.

Genotype and Th2 cells control monocyte to tissue resident macrophage differentiation during nematode infection of the pleural cavity

The recent revolution in tissue-resident macrophage biology has resulted largely from murine studies performed in the C57BL/6 strain. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of immune cells in the pleural cavity using both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Unlike C57BL/6 mice, naive tissue-resident Large Cavity Macrophages (LCM) of BALB/c mice failed to fully implement the tissue residency program. Following infection with a pleural-dwelling nematode these pre-existing differences were accentuated with LCM expansion occurring in C57BL/6 but not BALB/c mice. While infection drove monocyte recruitment in both strains, only in C57BL/6 mice were monocytes able to efficiently integrate into the resident pool. Monocyte to macrophage conversion required both T cells and IL-4Rα signalling. Host genetics are therefore a key influence on tissue resident macrophage biology, and during nematode infection Th2 cells control the differentiation pathway of tissue resident macrophages.

Regulatory B cells improve ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction by modulating monocyte migration

Overactivated inflammatory responses contribute to adverse ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a newly discovered subset of B cells with immunomodulatory roles in many immune and inflammation-related diseases. Our study aims to determine whether the expansion of Bregs exerts a beneficial effect on ventricular remodeling and explore the mechanisms involved. Here, we showed that adoptive transfer of Bregs ameliorated ventricular remodeling in a murine MI model, as demonstrated by improved cardiac function, decreased scar size and attenuated interstitial fibrosis without changing the survival rate. Reduced Ly6Chi monocyte infiltration was found in the hearts of the Breg-transferred mice, while the infiltration of Ly6Clo monocytes was not affected. In addition, the replenishment of Bregs had no effect on the myocardial accumulation of T cells or neutrophils. Mechanistically, Bregs reduced the expression of C–C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in monocytes, which inhibited proinflammatory monocyte recruitment to the heart from the peripheral blood and mobilization from the bone marrow. Breg-mediated protection against MI was abrogated by treatment with an interleukin 10 (IL-10) antibody. Finally, IL-10 neutralization reversed the effect of Bregs on monocyte migration and CCR2 expression. The present study suggests a therapeutic value of Bregs in limiting ventricular remodeling after MI through decreasing CCR2-mediated monocyte recruitment and mobilization.

Enteric glial cells favour accumulation of anti-inflammatory macrophages during the resolution of muscularis inflammation

Objective: Monocyte-derived macrophages (Mϕs) are crucial regulators during muscularis inflammation. However, it is unclear which microenvironmental factors are responsible for monocyte recruitment and neurotrophic Mϕ differentiation in this paradigm. Here, we investigate Mϕ heterogeneity at different stages of muscularis inflammation and determine how environmental cues can attract and activate tissue protective Mϕs. Design: Single cell RNA sequencing was performed on immune cells from the muscularis of wild-type and CCR2-/- mice at different timepoints after muscularis inflammation. CX3CR1GFP/+ and CX3CR1CreERT2 R26YFP mice were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The transcriptome of enteric glial cells (EGCs) was investigated using PLPCreERT2 Rpl22HA mice. In addition, we assessed the effect of supernatant from neurosphere-derived EGCs on monocyte differentiation based on the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors. Results: Muscularis inflammation induced marked alterations in mononuclear phagocyte populations associated with a rapid infiltration of Ly6c+ monocytes that locally acquired unique transcriptional states. Trajectory inference analysis revealed two main pro-resolving Mϕs subpopulations during the resolution of muscularis inflammation, i.e. Cd206+ MhcIIhi and Timp2+ MhcIIlo Mϕs, which were both derived from CCR2+ monocytes. Interestingly, we found that EGCs were able to sense damage to the muscularis to stimulate monocyte recruitment and differentiation towards pro-resolving Mϕs via CCL2 and CSF1, respectively. Conclusion: Our study provides a comprehensive insight into pro-resolving Mϕ differentiation and their regulators during muscularis inflammation. We deepened our understanding in the interaction between EGCs and Mϕs, thereby highlighting pro-resolving Mϕ differentiation as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of intestinal inflammation.

CD200 Limits Monopoiesis and Monocyte Recruitment in Atherosclerosis

Rationale: Inflammation is a basic component of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. CD200 is an immune checkpoint known to control macrophage activation. CD200 recently emerged in the Framingham Heart Study and 2 other cohorts as being potentially relevant in CVD. The role of this pathway in CVD is unknown. Objective: We sought to examine the role of CD200 in atherosclerosis. Methods and Results: Using hypercholesterolemic ApoE-/- mice, we demonstrate that whole-body CD200 deficiency augments atherosclerotic lesion formation and vulnerability. Administration of a CD200-Fusion protein reduces neointima formation. Our data show that the CD200-CD200R pathway restrains activation of CD200R+ lesional macrophages, their production of CCR2 ligands, and monocyte recruitment in vitro and in vivo in an air pouch model. Loss of CD200 leads to an excessive accumulation of classical Ly6Chi monocytes and CCR2+ macrophages within the atherosclerotic aorta, as assessed by mass cytometry. Moreover, we uncover a previously uncharacterised effect of the CD200/CD200R pathway in limiting dysregulated monopoiesis and Ly6Chi monocytosis in hypercholesterolemic mice. Bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrate that the CD200-CD20R pathway enables two complementary and tissue-dependent strategies to limit atherogenesis: CD200 expression by bone-marrow derived cells limits systemic monocytosis, while CD200 expression by non-haematopoietic cells, e.g. endothelial cells, prevents local plaque growth. We show that CD200R signalling controls monopoiesis and macrophage activation through inhibiting phosphorylation of STAT1. Finally, CD200R expression on classical monocytes in peripheral blood of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with a lower burden of CAD and a more favourable Virtual Histology plaque profile. Conclusions: The CD200 checkpoint is a key limiting factor for monopoiesis, monocyte-macrophage activation and recruitment in atherosclerosis with conserved features in human and mouse. It thus offers a novel potential therapeutic pathway to treat CVD.