Endocytosis of commensal antigens by intestinal epithelial cells regulates mucosal T cell homeostasis

Commensal bacteria influence host physiology, without invading host tissues. We show that proteins from segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) are transferred into intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) through adhesion-directed endocytosis that is distinct from the clathrin-dependent endocytosis of invasive pathogens. This process transfers microbial cell wall–associated proteins, including an antigen that stimulates mucosal T helper 17 (T_H17) cell differentiation, into the cytosol of IECs in a cell division control protein 42 homolog (CDC42)–dependent manner. Removal of CDC42 activity in vivo led to disruption of endocytosis induced by SFB and decreased epithelial antigen acquisition, with consequent loss of mucosal T_H17 cells. Our findings demonstrate direct communication between a resident gut microbe and the host and show that under physiological conditions, IECs acquire antigens from commensal bacteria for generation of T cell responses to the resident microbiota

Roles of SOX9 on self-renewal and differentiation of the intestinal epithelium

Sox9 est un facteur de transcription exprimé au cours du développement de l'intestin et son expression est maintenue à l'âge adulte dans trois populations cellulaires : les cellules souches, les cellules de Paneth, et les cellules tuft. L'inactivation de Sox9 dans l'épithélium intestinal embryonnaire entraîne, chez l'adulte, une hyperplasie des cryptes ainsi que l'absence de cellules de Paneth. Ce projet de thèse vise à déterminer le rôle de Sox9 dans les cellules de Paneth (dont la fonction est altérée chez les patients atteints de la maladie de Crohn), à identifier les mécanismes par lesquels Sox9 régule la prolifération et à proposer des cibles de Sox9 dans les cellules tuft. À l'aide de modèles murins d'inactivation de Sox9 au niveau de l'épithélium intestinal adulte, nous avons montré que la perte de ce facteur conduit à une augmentation de la prolifération dans les cryptes, confirmant ainsi que Sox9 régule négativement ce processus. Nos résultats indiquent que Sox9 est essentiel au maintien de l'identité des cellules de Paneth et nous proposons qu'il assure cette fonction en réprimant des gènes requis pour la différenciation des cellules de Goblet : Muc2 et Klf4. La perte de Sox9 dans les cellules de Paneth s'accompagne d'une réduction importante des molécules antimicrobiennes, ce qui entraîne une dysbiose intestinale. Dans un environnement spécifique (en présence du « mouse norovirus »), les souris déficientes en Sox9 présentent une perméabilité intestinale augmentée et une susceptibilité à l'inflammation accrue. Les dysfonctionnements des réponses antimicrobiennes et immunitaires dans notre modèle sont comparables à ceux observés chez les patients atteints de la maladie de Crohn, suggérant une implication potentielle de Sox9 dans cette pathologie. De plus, ces altérations pourraient expliquer l'augmentation de l'apparition des tumeurs observée chez les souris dont l'épithélium intestinal est déficient en Sox9, dans le contexte d'une mutation du gène suppresseur de tumeur Apc. Enfin, nous avons identifié des gènes potentiellement régulés par Sox9 qui pourraient expliquer son rôle dans le contrôle de la prolifération. Ces découvertes seront importantes pour mieux comprendre le processus du renouvellement de l'épithélium intestinal et identifier précisément le rôle de Sox9 dans le maintien de l'homéostasie et au cours du processus de la tumorigenèse intestinale.Sox9 is a transcription factor expressed during the intestinal development and its expression is maintained throughout adult age in at least three populations of cells: stem cells, Paneth cells and tuft cells. Sox9 inactivation in the embryonic intestinal epithelium leads to crypts hyperplasia and to the loss of the Paneth cell lineage. The aim of this project is to determine Sox9 function in the adult intestinal epithelium, especially its role in Paneth cells (which function is altered in patients affected by inflammatory diseases such as Crohn disease), to identify how Sox9 controls proliferation and to propose molecular targets of Sox9 in tuft cells. Using mice models to inactivate Sox9 in adult intestinal epithelium, we could show that Sox9 is required to limit proliferation in the crypts, thus validating the hypothesis that Sox9 regulates negatively proliferation. Our results indicate that Sox9 is essential to maintain Paneth cells identity and we proposed that it ensures this function by repressing genes specific for Goblet cells differentiation: Muc2 and Klf4. Loss of Sox9 in Paneth cells is associated with a reduction of antimicrobial molecules which causes intestinal dysbiosis. In a specific environment (in presence of the « mouse norovirus »), Sox9-deficient mice have a defective intestinal permeability and are more susceptible to inflammation. The dysfunctions of the mucosal defences and of immunity responses in our model resemble those observed in Crohn patients, thus suggesting a potential implication of Sox9 in this pathology. In addition, these alterations could be responsible for the increased susceptibility of our deficient model to develop tumors in the context of a mutation of the tumor suppressor gene Apc. We started to unravel potential molecular targets of Sox9 that are involved in the control of proliferation, that will be important to better understand Sox9 function in the intestinal epithelium self-renewal and to identify precisely Sox9 function to maintain homeostasis and during intestinal tumorigenesis

Cross talk between Paneth and tuft cells drives dysbiosis and inflammation in the gut mucosa

International audienceGut microbiota imbalance (dysbiosis) is increasingly associated with pathological conditions, both within and outside the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal Paneth cells are considered to be guardians of the gut microbiota, but the events linking Paneth cell dysfunction with dysbiosis remain unclear. We report a three-step mechanism for dysbiosis initiation. Initial alterations in Paneth cells, as frequently observed in obese and inflammatorybowel diseases patients, cause a mild remodeling of microbiota, with amplification of succinate-producing species. SucnR1-dependent activation of epithelial tuft cells triggers a type 2 immune response that, in turn, aggravates the Paneth cell defaults, promoting dysbiosis and chronic inflammation. We thus reveal a function of tuft cells in promoting dysbiosis following Paneth cell deficiency and an unappreciated essential role of Paneth cells in maintaining a balanced microbiota to prevent inappropriate activation of tuft cells and deleterious dysbiosis. This succinate-tuft cell inflammation circuit may also contribute to the chronic dysbiosis observed in patients