The innate immune system limits viral replication via type I interferon and also induces the presentation of viral antigens to cells of the adaptive immune response. Using infection of mice with vesicular stomatitis virus, we analyzed how the innate immune system inhibits viral propagation but still allows the presentation of antigen to cells of the adaptive immune response. We found that expression of the gene encoding the inhibitory protein Usp18 in metallophilic macrophages led to lower type I interferon responsiveness, thereby allowing locally restricted replication of virus. This was essential for the induction of adaptive antiviral immune responses and, therefore, for preventing the fatal outcome of infection. In conclusion, we found that enforced viral replication in marginal zone macrophages was an immunological mechanism that ensured the production of sufficient antigen for effective activation of the adaptive immune response.

Since the discovery of the ubiquitin system and the description of its important role in the degradation of proteins, many studies have shown the importance of ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs). One special member of this family is the USP18 protein (formerly UBP43). In the past two decades, several functions of USP18 have been discovered: this protein is not only an isopeptidase but also a potent inhibitor of interferon signaling. Therefore, USP18 functions as 'a' maestro of many biological pathways in various cell types. This review outlines multiple functions of USP18 in the regulation of various immunological processes, including pathogen control, cancer development, and autoimmune diseases.

Wiskott Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is caused by mutations in the WAS IntroductionWiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked immunodeficiency caused by mutations of the WAS gene that is widely expressed within hematopoietic cells. 1 The clinical phenotype of WAS is characterized by congenital thrombocytopenia, combined immunodeficiency, and eczema. 1 The WAS protein (WASp) includes several functional domains that couple signal transduction to reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. As a result, WASp has significant influence on processes such as cell adhesion, migration, assembly/turnover of cell surface receptors, and immunologic synapse formation. 1,2 Several studies in patients with WAS and in Was knock-out (WKO) mice have shown that WASp plays a critical role in the function of T and natural killer lymphocytes and dendritic cells. 1,3 However, the importance of WASp in B-cell development and function is less clearly defined. In vitro studies have shown that WASp-deficient B cells display defective actin polymerization on activation, 4 and impaired migration in response to CXCL13 5 ; however, calcium mobilization and proliferation after B-cell receptor ligation were found to be normal or only slightly reduced. 3 Studies in heterozygous Was ϩ/Ϫ mice have found progressive in vivo selection for WASp-expressing cells in T, B, and natural killer lineages. 6 Within the B-cell lineage, such selective advantage was especially prominent in marginal zone (MZ) B cells. 2,6 However, the in vivo effect of selective deficiency of WASp expression within a single lineage has not been analyzed so far and is of critical importance to understand WAS pathophysiology. Recently, with the use of a chimeric BM transplantation reconstitution model, Becker-Herman et al have provided evidence that lack of WASp expression in B lymphocytes causes immune dysregulation and may lead to fatal autoimmunity. 7 However, mixed chimerism in non-B lineages, irradiation-induced load of The online version of this article contains a data supplement.The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. Therefore, and solely to indicate this fact, this article is hereby marked ''advertisement'' in accordance with 18 USC section 1734. 2819BLOOD, 22 MARCH 2012 ⅐ VOLUME 119, NUMBER 12For personal use only. on May 9, 2018. by guest www.bloodjournal.org From apoptotic bodies, and homeostatic B-cell proliferation may also have contributed to autoimmunity in that model.We describe here the generation of mice in which the Was locus has been floxed by homologous recombination. By crossing these mice to mb1-Cre knock-in mice, 8 which express the Cre recombinase under control of the CD79a promoter, the Was locus is selectively and efficiently deleted in B cells only, allowing analysis of the effect of B cell-restricted deficiency of WASp in vivo. Methods MiceAll mice were bred on a C57BL/6 background. WKO mice have been described. 3 Mb1-Cre mice 8 were a generous gift from Dr Michael Reth (Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology, ...

The innate immune response plays an essential role in the prevention of early viral dissemination. We used the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus model system to analyze the role of tissue macrophages/Kupffer cells in this process. Our findings demonstrated that Kupffer cells are essential for the efficient capture of infectious virus and for preventing viral replication. The latter process involved activation of Kupffer cells by interferon (IFN)-I and prevented viral spread to neighboring hepatocytes. In the absence of Kupffer cells, hepatocytes were not able to suppress virus replication, even in the presence of IFN-I, leading to prolonged viral replication and severe T cell-dependent immunopathology. Conclusion: Tissue-resident macrophages play a crucial role in early viral capture and represent the major liver cell type exhibiting responsiveness to IFN-I and providing control of viral replication. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;52:25-32) P ersistent infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of lethal liver disease resulting from the development of liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular cancer.1 Because both viruses are poorly cytopathic, most of the ensuing liver destruction results from CD8 þ T cell responses directed against virus-infected hepatocytes. These cells prevent rapid dissemination of the virus and control viral replication by secreting interferon (IFN)-c and perforin. However, in the event of viral persistence, exaggerated and prolonged T cell activation results in severe liver pathology which can eventually be fatal. 2,3Thus CD8 þ T cells play a crucial role in both virus control and immunopathology. [4][5][6][7][8] Macrophages are resident in every organ of the body.9-11 With their potent phagocytic capacity, theyAbbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; IFN, interferon; IFNAR, IFN-a receptor; LCMV, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; LCMV-NP, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein.From the

Rapid activation of immune responses is necessary for antibacterial defense, but excessive immune activation can result in life-threatening septic shock. Understanding how these processes are balanced may provide novel therapeutic potential in treating inflammatory disease. Fc receptors are crucial for innate immune activation. However, the role of the putative Fc receptor for IgM, known as Toso/Faim3, has to this point been unclear. In this study, we generated Toso-deficient mice and used them to uncover a critical regulatory function of Toso in innate immune activation. Development of innate immune cells was intact in the absence of Toso, but Toso-deficient neutrophils exhibited more reactive oxygen species production and reduced phagocytosis of pathogens compared with controls. Cytokine production was also decreased in Toso −/− mice compared with WT animals, rendering them resistant to septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide. However, Toso −/− mice also displayed limited cytokine production after infection with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that was correlated with elevated presence of Listeria throughout the body. Accordingly, Toso −/− mice succumbed to infections of L. monocytogenes , whereas WT mice successfully eliminated the infection. Taken together, our data reveal Toso to be a unique regulator of innate immune responses during bacterial infection and septic shock.

Infection with viruses carrying cross-reactive antigens is associated with break of immunological tolerance and induction of autoimmune disease. Dendritic cells play an important role in this process. However, it remains unclear why autoimmune-tolerance is broken during virus infection, but usually not during exposure to non-replicating cross-reactive antigens. Here we show that antigen derived from replicating virus but not from non-replicating sources undergoes a multiplication process in dendritic cells in spleen and lymph nodes. This enforced viral replication was dependent on Usp18 and was essential for expansion of autoreactive CD8+ T cells. Preventing enforced virus replication by depletion of CD11c+ cells, genetically deleting Usp18, or pharmacologically inhibiting of viral replication blunted the expansion of autoreactive CD8+ T cells and prevented autoimmune diabetes. In conclusion, Usp18-driven enforced viral replication in dendritic cells can break immunological tolerance and critically influences induction of autoimmunity.

Upon infection with persistence-prone virus, type I interferon (IFN-I) mediates antiviral activity and also upregulates the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and this upregulation can lead to CD8+ T-cell exhaustion. How these very diverse functions are regulated remains unknown. This study, using the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, showed that a subset of CD169+ macrophages in murine spleen and lymph nodes produced high amounts of IFN-I upon infection. Absence of CD169+ macrophages led to insufficient production of IFN-I, lower antiviral activity and persistence of virus. Lack of CD169+ macrophages also limited the IFN-I-dependent expression of PD-L1. Enhanced viral replication in the absence of PD-L1 led to persistence of virus and prevented CD8+ T-cell exhaustion. As a consequence, mice exhibited severe immunopathology and died quickly after infection. Therefore, CD169+ macrophages are important contributors to the IFN-I response and thereby influence antiviral activity, CD8+ T-cell exhaustion and immunopathology.

Cluster of differentiation (CD)8+ T cells are like a double edged sword during chronic viral infections because they not only promote virus elimination but also induce virus-mediated immunopathology. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported during virus infections. However, the role of ROS in T-cell-mediated immunopathology remains unclear. Here we used the murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus to explore the role of ROS during the processes of virus elimination and induction of immunopathology. We found that virus infection led to elevated levels of ROS producing granulocytes and macrophages in virus-infected liver and spleen tissues that were triggered by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. Lack of the regulatory subunit p47phox of the NADPH oxidase diminished ROS production in these cells. While CD8+ T cells exhibited ROS production that was independent of NADPH oxidase expression, survival and T-cell function was elevated in p47phox-deficient (Ncf1−/−) mice. In the absence of p47phox, enhanced T-cell immunity promoted virus elimination and blunted corresponding immunopathology. In conclusion, we find that NADPH-mediated production of ROS critically impairs the immune response, impacting elimination of virus and outcome of liver cell damage.