Neuromedin U programs eosinophils to promote mucosal immunity of the small intestine

Science. 2023 Sep 15;381(6663):1189-1196. doi: 10.1126/science.ade4177. Epub 2023 Sep 14.

Abstract

Eosinophils are granulocytes that play an essential role in type 2 immunity and regulate multiple homeostatic processes in the small intestine (SI). However, the signals that regulate eosinophil activity in the SI at steady state remain poorly understood. Through transcriptome profiling of eosinophils from various mouse tissues, we found that a subset of SI eosinophils expressed neuromedin U (NMU) receptor 1 (NMUR1). Fate-mapping analyses showed that NMUR1 expression in SI eosinophils was programmed by the local microenvironment and further enhanced by inflammation. Genetic perturbation and eosinophil-organoid coculture experiments revealed that NMU-mediated eosinophil activation promotes goblet cell differentiation. Thus, NMU regulates epithelial cell differentiation and barrier immunity by stimulating NMUR1-expressing eosinophils in the SI, which highlights the importance of neuroimmune-epithelial cross-talk in maintaining tissue homeostasis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Eosinophils* / immunology
  • Immunity, Mucosal*
  • Intestine, Small* / immunology
  • Mice
  • Neuropeptides*
  • Organoids
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled* / metabolism
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide* / genetics
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide* / metabolism

Substances

  • neuromedin U
  • Neuropeptides
  • Nmur1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide