Chronic TLR7 and TLR9 signaling drives anemia via differentiation of specialized hemophagocytes

Abstract

Infectious and autoimmune diseases are associated with anemia and thrombocytopenia. A severe form of inflammatory cytopenia called macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) may occur during rheumatological disorders and viral infections. Akilesh et al. show that monocyte recognition of self- or pathogen-derived nucleic acids via Toll-like receptors 7 and 9 (TLR7 and TLR9) drives MAS-like disease in mice. TLR7 or TLR9 signaling in monocytes causes these cells to differentiate into inflammatory hematophagocytes (iHPCs), which are similar to but distinct from red pulp macrophages. Preventing iHPC differentiation by depleting monocytes relieves MAS-like symptoms. When mice were subjected to a model of malarial anemia, MyD88- and endosomal TLR-dependent iHPC differentiation also occurred. Thus, iHPCs may play a role in both MAS-driven and malarial anemia, as well as thrombocytopenia.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 11, 2019
Source ID
10.1126/science.aao5213

Entities

People

  • Adam Lacy-Hulbert
  • Betsy J Barnes
  • Bharati Matta
  • Elizabeth Whalen
  • Griffin Gessay
  • Holly M Akilesh
  • Jeffrey M Duggan
  • Jessica A Hamerman
  • Keith B Elkon
  • Marion Pepper
  • Matthew B Buechler
  • Mike J Mason
  • Scott Presnell
  • William O. Hahn
  • Xizhang Sun

Organizations

  • Alliance for Lupus Research
  • American Association of Immunologists
  • Benaroya Research Institute
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Science Foundation
  • The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
  • United States Department of Defense
  • University of Washington

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Immunology and Pathology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech