- Han, Daehee;
- Walsh, Matthew C;
- Cejas, Pedro J;
- Dang, Nicholas N;
- Kim, Youngmi F;
- Kim, Jihyun;
- Charrier-Hisamuddin, Laetitia;
- Chau, Lillian;
- Zhang, Qin;
- Bittinger, Kyle;
- Bushman, Frederic D;
- Turka, Laurence A;
- Shen, Hao;
- Reizis, Boris;
- DeFranco, Anthony L;
- Wu, Gary D;
- Choi, Yongwon
The intracellular signaling molecule TRAF6 is critical for Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated activation of dendritic cells (DCs). We now report that DC-specific deletion of TRAF6 (TRAF6ΔDC) resulted, unexpectedly, in loss of mucosal tolerance, characterized by spontaneous development of T helper 2 (Th2) cells in the lamina propria and eosinophilic enteritis and fibrosis in the small intestine. Loss of tolerance required the presence of gut commensal microbiota but was independent of DC-expressed MyD88. Further, TRAF6ΔDC mice exhibited decreased regulatory T (Treg) cell numbers in the small intestine and diminished induction of iTreg cells in response to model antigen. Evidence suggested that this defect was associated with diminished DC expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Finally, we demonstrate that aberrant Th2 cell-associated responses in TRAF6ΔDC mice could be mitigated via restoration of Treg cell activity. Collectively, our findings reveal a role for TRAF6 in directing DC maintenance of intestinal immune tolerance through balanced induction of Treg versus Th2 cell immunity.