Stimulation of a subset of natural killer T cells by CD103+ DC is required for GM-CSF and protection from pneumococcal infection

Innate-like T cells, including invariant natural killer T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T cells, and gamma delta T cells, are present in various barrier tissues, including the lung, where they carry out protective responses during infections. Here, we investigate their roles during pulmonary pneumococcal infection. Following infection, innate-like T cells rapidly increase in lung tissue, in part through recruitment, but T cell antigen receptor activation and cytokine production occur mostly in interleukin-17-producing NKT17 and gamma delta T cells. NKT17 cells are preferentially located within lung tissue prior to infection, as are CD103(+) dendritic cells, which are important both for antigen presentation to NKT17 cells and gamma delta T cell activation. Whereas interleukin-17-producing gamma delta T cells are numerous, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is exclusive to NKT17 cells and is required for optimal protection. These studies demonstrate how particular cellular interactions and responses of functional subsets of innate-like T cells contribute to protection from pathogenic lung infection.

Automated summary

This study investigates the roles of innate-like T cells during pulmonary pneumococcal infection. The researchers found that these T cells rapidly increase in the lung tissue following infection and participate in the immune response. Specifically, interleukin-17-producing NKT17 and gamma delta T cells play a major role in the infection, with NKT17 cells being preferentially located in lung tissue prior to infection and interacting with CD103(+) dendritic cells. These studies demonstrate the importance of specific cellular interactions and functional subsets of innate-like T cells in protecting against lung infection.