Strigolactones (SLs) are phytohormones that inhibit shoot branching and function in the rhizospheric communication with symbiotic fungi and parasitic weeds. An a/b-hydrolase protein, DWARF14 (D14), has been recognized to be an essential component of plant SL signalling, although its precise function remains unknown. Here we present the SL-dependent interaction of D14 with a gibberellin signalling repressor SLR1 and a possible mechanism of phytohormone perception in D14-mediated SL signalling. D14 functions as a cleavage enzyme of SLs, and the cleavage reaction induces the interaction with SLR1. The crystal structure of D14 shows that 5-hydroxy-3-methylbutenolide (D-OH), which is a reaction product of SLs, is trapped in the catalytic cavity of D14 to form an altered surface. The D14 residues recognizing D-OH are critical for the SL-dependent D14 À SLR1 interaction. These results provide new insight into crosstalk between gibberellin and SL signalling pathways.

SUMMARY Although imbalances in gut microbiota composition, or “dysbiosis”, are associated with many diseases, the effects of gut dysbiosis on host systemic physiology are less well characterized. We report that gut dysbiosis induced by antibiotic (Abx)-treatment promotes allergic airway inflammation by shifting macrophage polarization in the lung toward the alternatively activated M2 phenotype. Adoptive transfer of alveolar macrophages derived from Abx-treated mice was sufficient to increase allergic airway inflammation. Abx-treatment resulted in the overgrowth of a commensal fungal Candida species in the gut and increased plasma concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which induced M2 macrophage polarization in the lung. Suppression of PGE2 synthesis by the cyclooxygenase inhibitors aspirin and celecoxib suppressed M2 macrophage polarization and decreased allergic airway inflammatory cell infiltration in Abx-treated mice. Thus, Abx-treatment can cause overgrowth of particular fungal species in the gut and promote M2 macrophage activation at distant sites to influence systemic responses including allergic inflammation.

Epithelial tissues continually undergo apoptosis. Commensal organisms that inhabit the epithelium influence tissue homeostasis, in which regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have a central role. However, the physiological importance of epithelial cell apoptosis and how the number of Treg cells is regulated are both incompletely understood. Here we found that apoptotic epithelial cells negatively regulated the commensal-stimulated proliferation of Treg cells. Gut commensals stimulated CX3CR1(+)CD103(-)CD11b(+) dendritic cells (DCs) to produce interferon-β (IFN-β), which augmented the proliferation of Treg cells in the intestine. Conversely, phosphatidylserine exposed on apoptotic epithelial cells suppressed IFN-β production by the DCs via inhibitory signaling mediated by the cell-surface glycoprotein CD300a and thus suppressed Treg cell proliferation. Our findings reveal a regulatory role for apoptotic epithelial cells in maintaining the number of Treg cell and tissue homeostasis.

Certain activating immune receptors expressed on myeloid cells noncovalently associate with either DAP12 or FcεRIγ (FcRγ chain), the ITAM-bearing transmembrane adapter proteins. An activating receptor, myeloid-associated Ig-like receptor (MAIR) II, is expressed on a subset of B cells and macrophages in the spleen and peritoneal cavity of mice and associates with DAP12 in these cells. However, we demonstrate here that cross-linking MAIR-II with mAb induced secretion of a significant amount of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 from DAP12−/− as well as wild-type (WT) peritoneal macrophages. We show that MAIR-II associates with not only DAP12 but also FcRγ chain homodimers in peritoneal macrophages. LPS enhanced the FcRγ chain expression and FcRγ chain-dependent cell surface expression of MAIR-II and had additive effects on MAIR-II-mediated inflammatory cytokine secretion from peritoneal macrophages. The lysine residue in the transmembrane region of MAIR-II was involved in the association with FcRγ chain as well as DAP12. Our findings present the first case of an activating receptor that uses either DAP12 or FcRγ chain as a signaling adapter. The FcRγ chain may provide cooperation with and/or compensation for DAP12 in MAIR-II-mediated inflammatory responses by peritoneal macrophages.

Marginal zone (MZ) B cells produce a first wave of antibodies for protection from blood-borne pathogens. However, the role of MZ B cells in inflammatory responses has not been elucidated. Here we show that MZ B cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), and exacerbate systemic inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After intravenous injection of LPS or E. coli, mice deficient in MZ B cells or IL-6 only in MZ B cells have attenuated systemic inflammatory responses and prolonged survival compared with wild-type mice. LPS directly stimulates MZ B cells via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MyD88 pathways for IL-6 production. Furthermore, TLR4 requires physical and functional association with Fcα/μR (CD351) for its oligomer formation, NF-κB signalling and IL-6 production from MZ B cells; this association is responsible for systemic inflammatory responses and endotoxic shock. These results reveal a pro-inflammatory role of MZ B cells in endotoxic shock.

Inflammatory monocytes play an important role in host defense against infections. However, the regulatory mechanisms of transmigration into infected tissue are not yet completely understood. Here we show that mice deficient in MAIR-II (also called CLM-4 or LMIR2) are more susceptible to caecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced peritonitis than wild-type (WT) mice. Adoptive transfer of inflammatory monocytes from WT mice, but not from MAIR-II, TLR4 or MyD88-deficient mice, significantly improves survival of MAIR-II-deficient mice after CLP. Migration of inflammatory monocytes into the peritoneal cavity after CLP, which is dependent on VLA-4, is impaired in above mutant and FcRγ chain-deficient mice. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation induces association of MAIR-II with FcRγ chain and Syk, leading to enhancement of VLA-4-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1. These results indicate that activation of MAIR-II/FcRγ chain by TLR4/MyD88-mediated signalling is essential for the transmigration of inflammatory monocytes from the blood to sites of infection mediated by VLA-4.

Human and mouse B cells lacking functional DAP12 are hyperresponsive, and DAP12 works with MAIR-II (CD300d) to negatively regulate B cell activity.

Neutrophils play a central role in host defenses against infectious microbial pathogens. However, molecular basis for their triggering signals has been incompletely understood. Here, we show molecular and functional characteristics of myeloid-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (MAIR)-IV. MAIR-IV was preferentially expressed on neutrophils in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, peritoneal cavity and spleen. MAIR-IV physically associates with immunoreceptor tyrosine based activating motif (ITAM)-bearing adaptor FcRγ chain. Cross-linking MAIR-IV with anti-MAIR-IV monoclonal antibody significantly induced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 from neutrophils. Thus, MAIR-IV may regulate activation of neutrophils and play an important role for innate immunity.