Cell Reports (May 2023)

Vascular traffic control of neutrophil recruitment to the liver by microbiota-endothelium crosstalk

  • Amanda Z. Zucoloto,
  • Jared Schlechte,
  • Aline Ignacio,
  • Carolyn A. Thomson,
  • Shannon Pyke,
  • Ian-ling Yu,
  • Markus B. Geuking,
  • Kathy D. McCoy,
  • Bryan G. Yipp,
  • Mark R. Gillrie,
  • Braedon McDonald

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 42, no. 5
p. 112507

Abstract

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Summary: During bloodstream infections, neutrophils home to the liver as part of an intravascular immune response to eradicate blood-borne pathogens, but the mechanisms regulating this crucial response are unknown. Using in vivo imaging of neutrophil trafficking in germ-free and gnotobiotic mice, we demonstrate that the intestinal microbiota guides neutrophil homing to the liver in response to infection mediated by the microbial metabolite D-lactate. Commensal-derived D-lactate augments neutrophil adhesion in the liver independent of granulopoiesis in bone marrow or neutrophil maturation and activation in blood. Instead, gut-to-liver D-lactate signaling primes liver endothelial cells to upregulate adhesion molecule expression in response to infection and promote neutrophil adherence. Targeted correction of microbiota D-lactate production in a model of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis restores neutrophil homing to the liver and reduces bacteremia in a model of Staphylococcus aureus infection. These findings reveal long-distance traffic control of neutrophil recruitment to the liver by microbiota-endothelium crosstalk.

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