IFN-I and CD8 T cells increase intestinal barrier permeability after chronic viral infection

ABSTRACT: Intestinal barrier leakage constitutes a potential therapeutic target for many inflammatory diseases and represents a disease progression marker during chronic viral infections. The causes of altered gut barrier remain, however, mostly unknown. By using murine infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus we demonstrated that, in contrast to an acute viral strain, a persistent viral isolate led to long-term viral replication in hematopoietic and mesenchymal, but not epithelial (IEC), cells in the intestine. Viral persistence drove sustained intestinal epithelial barrier leakage, which was characterized by increased paracellular flux of small molecules and was associated with enhanced colitis susceptibility. IFN-I signaling caused tight junction dysregulation in IEC, promoted gut microbiome shifts and enhanced intestinal CD8 T cell responses. Notably, both IFN-I receptor blockade and CD8 T cell depletion prevented infection-induced barrier leakage. Our study demonstrated that infection with a virus that persistently replicated in intestinal mucosa increased epithelial barrier permeability, and revealed IFN-I and CD8 T cells as causative factors of intestinal leakage during chronic infections.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE155120 | GEO | 2020/08/26

REPOSITORIES: GEO