Expansion of Tfh‐like cells during chronic Salmonella exposure mediates the generation of autoimmune hypergammaglobulinemia in MyD88‐deficient mice

Abstract

The role of TLR signaling in linking the innate and adaptive immune systems has been a controversial issue that remains to be solved. Here, we determined whether MyD88-dependent TLR signals are required for the generation of B-cell responses during chronic Salmonella infection. Oral administration of recombinant attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine (RASV) strain in MyD88(-/-) mice resulted in chronic infection. Infection was accompanied by enlarged germinal centers and hypergammaglobulinemia with anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)-specific Ab in sera, and the deposition of immune complexes in the kidneys, suggesting onset of autoimmunity. CD4(+) T cells expressing PD-1, CXCR5, ICOS, and IL-21 were dramatically increased in chronically infected mice, indicating the expansion of follicular helper T (Tfh)-like cells. Of note, the depletion of CD4(+) T cells completely blocked the generation of polyclonal IgG Ab in sera after oral RASV challenge. Inflammatory myeloid cells expressing CD11b and Gr-1 accumulated in high numbers in the spleen of MyD88(-/-) mice. Interestingly, the blockade of PD-1 or ICOS significantly reduced the hypergammaglobulinemia and dsDNA-specific autoantibody production. Overall, these results suggest that Tfh-like cells in chronic bacterial infection trigger autoimmune hypergammaglobulinemia in a PD-1- and ICOS-dependent manner.