Oral intake of lipopolysaccharide regulates toll-like receptor 4-dependent granulopoiesis

Abstract

While neutrophil production in emergency states has been extensively studied, regulation of neutrophil homeostasis in the steady-state remained incompletely understood. We have shown that innate immune receptor toll-like receptor (TLR)4 and downstream TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) are indispensable for the generation of a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-dependent regulatory feedback loop upon antibody-induced neutropenia. These findings demonstrated that steady-state granulopoiesis is a demand-driven process, which may rely on differential triggering of innate immune receptors by microbial cell wall constituents such as lipopolysaccharide. Herein, we present further evidence on underlying mechanisms: oral intake of highly endotoxic lipopolysaccharide, but not TLR-antagonistic lipopolysaccharide derived from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, induces hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell fate decisions toward the neutrophil lineage independent of G-CSF. TLR4 has been identified as the indispensable sensor for oral lipopolysaccharide-modulated steady-state granulopoiesis. These results have important implications: food lipopolysaccharide content or the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome may be strongly underrated as determinants of peripheral blood neutrophil levels. Both neutrophilia and neutropenia are associated with drastically worse outcomes in epidemiological studies of the general population as well as in diseased states.

Impact statement

In our present study, we investigated the impact of LPS on neutrophil homeostasis and found that oral intake is sufficient to induce hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell fate decisions towards the neutrophil lineage independent of G-CSF. In addition, TLR4 has been identified as the indispensable sensor for oral LPS-modulated steady-state granulopoiesis. We provide evidence that the gastrointestinal microbiome is critical for neutrophil homeostasis, which has implications for patients being treated with chemotherapy or antimicrobial therapy, since both are significantly influencing the composition of the intestinal microbiome.