Cell
Volume 163, Issue 2, 8 October 2015, Pages 354-366
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Article
Microbiota-Dependent Sequelae of Acute Infection Compromise Tissue-Specific Immunity

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.08.030Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Acute infections can persistently compromise tissue-specific immunity

  • Acute infections induce immune remodeling of the adipose tissue

  • Infection-induced lymphatic leakage deviates migratory DC trafficking

  • Microbiota sustains mesenteric inflammation and immune dysfunction post-infection

Summary

Infections have been proposed as initiating factors for inflammatory disorders; however, identifying associations between defined infectious agents and the initiation of chronic disease has remained elusive. Here, we report that a single acute infection can have dramatic and long-term consequences for tissue-specific immunity. Following clearance of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, sustained inflammation and associated lymphatic leakage in the mesenteric adipose tissue deviates migratory dendritic cells to the adipose compartment, thereby preventing their accumulation in the mesenteric lymph node. As a consequence, canonical mucosal immune functions, including tolerance and protective immunity, are persistently compromised. Post-resolution of infection, signals derived from the microbiota maintain inflammatory mesentery remodeling and consequently, transient ablation of the microbiota restores mucosal immunity. Our results indicate that persistent disruption of communication between tissues and the immune system following clearance of an acute infection represents an inflection point beyond which tissue homeostasis and immunity is compromised for the long-term.

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Co-first author

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Present address: Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA