Fibroblast activation protein is dispensable in the anti-influenza immune response in mice

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 3;12(2):e0171194. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171194. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) is a unique dual peptidase of the S9B serine protease family, being capable of both dipeptidyl peptidase and endopeptidase activities. FAP is expressed at low level in healthy adult organs including the pancreas, cervix, uterus, submaxillary gland and the skin, and highly upregulated in embryogenesis, chronic inflammation and tissue remodelling. It is also expressed by cancer-associated stromal fibroblasts in more than 90% of epithelial tumours. FAP has enzymatic and non-enzymatic functions in the growth, immunosuppression, invasion and cell signalling of tumour cells. FAP deficient mice are fertile and viable with no gross abnormality, but little data exist on the role of FAP in the immune system. FAP is upregulated in association with microbial stimulation and chronic inflammation, but its function in infection remains unknown. We showed that major populations of immune cells including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and neutrophils are generated and maintained normally in FAP knockout mice. Upon intranasal challenge with influenza virus, FAP mRNA was increased in the lungs and lung-draining lymph nodes. Nonetheless, FAP deficient mice showed similar pathologic kinetics to wildtype controls, and were capable of supporting normal anti-influenza T and B cell responses. There was no evidence of compensatory upregulation of other DPP4 family members in influenza-infected FAP-deficient mice. FAP appears to be dispensable in anti-influenza adaptive immunity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endopeptidases
  • Gelatinases / genetics*
  • Gelatinases / metabolism
  • Immunity*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Leukocytes / immunology
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / genetics*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / metabolism
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Phenotype
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Endopeptidases
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • fibroblast activation protein alpha
  • Gelatinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by project grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au) (APP1030145 to W.W., APP512282 to MDG), a contract from the National Institutes of Health (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx) (BAA-NIAID-DAIT-HHSN272201100018C to W.W.), and the Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation (http://www.cooperfoundation.org.au) (MDG). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.