Interferon-gamma induces epithelial reprogramming driving CXCL11-mediated T-cell migration

Abstract

The cytokine interferon-gamma plays a multifaceted role in intestinal immune responses ranging from anti- to proinflammatory depending on the setting. Here, using a 3D co-culture system based on human intestinal epithelial organoids, we explore the capacity of interferon-gamma exposure to reprogram intestinal epithelia and thereby directly modulate lymphocyte responses. Interferon-gamma treatment of organoids led to transcriptional reprogramming, marked by a switch to a proinflammatory gene expression profile, including transcriptional upregulation of the chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11. Proteomic analysis of organoid-conditioned medium posttreatment confirmed chemokine secretion. Interferon-gamma treatment of organoids led to enhanced T-cell migration in a CXCL11-dependent manner without affecting T-cell activation status. Taken together, our results suggest a specific role for CXCL11 in T-cell recruitment that could be targeted to prevent T-cell trafficking to the inflamed intestine.

Keywords: T lymphocytes; chemotaxis; interferon-gamma; intestinal epithelium.