Extracellular vesicles from lung tissue drive bone marrow neutrophil recruitment in inflammation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are single-membrane vesicles that play an essential role in long-range intercellular communications. EV investigation has been explored largely through cell-culture systems, but it remains unclear how physiological EVs exert homeostatic or pathological functions in vivo. Here, we report that lung EVs promote chemotaxis of neutrophils in bone marrow through delivery of double stranded DNA (dsDNA). We have identified and characterized EVs containing dsDNA collected from both human and murine lung tissues using newly developed approaches. Our analysis of EV proteomics together with single-cell RNA sequencing data reveals that type II alveolar epithelial cells are the main source of the lung EVs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the lung EVs accumulate in bone marrow and enhance neutrophil recruitment under inflammation conditions. Moreover, lung EV-DNA stimulates neutrophils to release the chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL2 via DNA-TLR9 signalling. Our findings establish a molecular basis of lung EVs in enhancement of host immune response to bacterial infection and provide new insights into understanding of vesicle-mediated systematic communications.

Automated summary

Lung extracellular vesicles (EVs) promote chemotaxis of neutrophils in the bone marrow by delivering double stranded DNA (dsDNA). Type II alveolar epithelial cells are identified as the main source of these lung EVs. Furthermore, lung EVs accumulate in the bone marrow and enhance neutrophil recruitment under inflammation conditions. Additionally, lung EV-DNA stimulates neutrophils to release the chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL2 through DNA-TLR9 signaling.