The neuropeptide NMU amplifies ILC2-driven allergic lung inflammation.

Nature
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) both contribute to mucosal homeostasis and initiate pathologic inflammation in allergic asthma. However, the signals that direct ILC2s to promote homeostasis versus inflammation are unclear. To identify such molecular cues, we profiled mouse lung-resident ILCs using single-cell RNA sequencing at steady state and after in vivo stimulation with the alarmin cytokines IL-25 and IL-33. ILC2s were transcriptionally heterogeneous after activation, with subpopulations distinguished by expression of proliferative, homeostatic and effector genes. The neuropeptide receptor Nmur1 was preferentially expressed by ILC2s at steady state and after IL-25 stimulation. Neuromedin U (NMU), the ligand of NMUR1, activated ILC2s in vitro, and in vivo co-administration of NMU with IL-25 strongly amplified allergic inflammation. Loss of NMU-NMUR1 signalling reduced ILC2 frequency and effector function, and altered transcriptional programs following allergen challenge in vivo. Thus, NMUR1 signalling promotes inflammatory ILC2 responses, highlighting the importance of neuro-immune crosstalk in allergic inflammation at mucosal surfaces.

Year of Publication
2017
Journal
Nature
Volume
549
Issue
7672
Pages
351-356
Date Published
2017 09 21
ISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature24029
PubMed ID
28902842
PubMed Central ID
PMC5746044
Links
Grant list
R01 AI074878 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
DP1 OD003930 / OD / NIH HHS / United States
K08 HL130540 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
U24 CA180922 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P01 AI056299 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI095466 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI130019 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
P01 AI039671 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL122531 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI102942 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U01 HG004080 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
R21 AI087990 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
K08 AI123516 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R21 AI083480 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R50 CA211461 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U01 AI095608 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI061570 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI097333 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U01 HG004085 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
DP2 AT009499 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States