Late Engagement of CD86 after Influenza Virus Clearance Promotes Recovery in a FoxP3 ⁺ Regulatory T Cell Dependent Manner

Abstract

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection in the respiratory tract triggers robust innate and adaptive immune responses, resulting in both virus clearance and lung inflammation and injury. After virus clearance, resolution of ongoing inflammation and tissue repair occur during a distinct recovery period. B7 family co-stimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86 have important roles in modulating T cell activity during the initiation and effector stages of the host response to IAV infection, but their potential role during recovery and resolution of inflammation is unknown. We found that antibody-mediated CD86 blockade in vivo after virus clearance led to a delay in recovery, characterized by increased numbers of lung neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines in airways and lung interstitium, but no change in conventional IAV-specific T cell responses. However, CD86 blockade led to decreased numbers of FoxP3 ⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs), and adoptive transfer of Tregs into αCD86 treated mice rescued the effect of the blockade, supporting a role for Tregs in promoting recovery after virus clearance. Specific depletion of Tregs late after infection mimicked the CD86 blockade phenotype, confirming a role for Tregs during recovery after virus clearance. Furthermore, we identified neutrophils as a target of Treg suppression since neutrophil depletion in Treg-depleted mice reduced excess inflammatory cytokines in the airways. These results demonstrate that Tregs, in a CD86 dependent mechanism, contribute to the resolution of disease after IAV infection, in part by suppressing neutrophil-driven cytokine release into the airways.

Author Summary

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection can cause severe inflammation and injury in the respiratory tract, which must be resolved and repaired for the host to fully recover after virus clearance. Evidence is emerging that host immune responses may regulate tissue repair and resolution of inflammation after IAV infection. Early in IAV infection, the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 promote inflammation through triggering IAV-specific T cell responses, but no role for CD80/86 in recovery after virus clearance has been previously established. By in vivo antibody-mediated blockade of CD80 or CD86 after virus clearance, we found that engagement of CD86 (but not CD80) was required for optimal recovery after influenza infection. Furthermore, we determined that CD86 was essential for maintaining the FoxP3 ⁺regulatory T cell (Treg) population in the respiratory tract, and CD86-dependent Tregs promoted recovery by suppressing pulmonary inflammation and supporting regain of weight after virus clearance. In addition, we demonstrated that Tregs suppress neutrophils late after infection, preventing neutrophils from driving excess inflammatory cytokine release into the airways. Taken together, we propose a novel role for CD86 engagement late after IAV infection to promote resolution of inflammation and host recovery through a Treg-dependent mechanism.