SLAMF9 regulates pDC homeostasis and function in health and disease

Lital Sever, Lihi Radomir, Kristin Strim, Anna Weiner, Nofar Shchottlender, Hadas Lewinsky, Avital F. Barak, Shifra Ben-Dor, Shirly Becker-Herman, Idit Shachar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

SLAMF9 belongs to the conserved lymphocytic activation molecule family (SLAMF). Unlike other SLAMs, which have been extensively studied, the role of SLAMF9 in the immune system remained mostly unexplored. By generating CRISPR/Cas9 SLAMF9 knockout mice, we analyzed the role of this receptor in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which preferentially express the SLAMF9 transcript and protein. These cells display a unique capacity to produce type I IFN and bridge between innate and adaptive immune response. Analysis of pDCs in SLAMF9(-/-) mice revealed an increase of immature pDCs in the bone marrow and enhanced accumulation of pDCs in the lymph nodes. In the periphery, SLAMF9 deficiency resulted in lower levels of the transcription factor SpiB, elevation of pDC survival, and attenuated IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha production. To define the role of SLAMF9 during inflammation, pDCs lacking SLAMF9 were followed during induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. SLAMF9(-/-) mice demonstrated attenuated disease and delayed onset, accompanied by a prominent increase of immature pDCs in the lymph node, with a reduced costimulatory potential and enhanced infiltration of pDCs into the central nervous system. These results suggest the crucial role of SLAMF9 in pDC differentiation, homeostasis, and function in the steady state and during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16489-16496
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume116
Issue number33
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 Aug 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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