Cited by 79T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyNeonatal Respiratory Health ResearchInterstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Regulation of the alveolar regenerative niche by amphiregulin-producing regulatory T cells

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Kaiser, Katherine A., Loffredo, Lucas F., Santos-Alexis, Kenia de los, Ringham, Olivia R., Arpaia, Nicholas·2023·Journal of Experimental Medicine

Abstract

Following respiratory viral infection, regeneration of the epithelial barrier is required to preserve lung function and prevent secondary infections. Lung regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical for maintaining blood oxygenation following influenza virus infection through production of the EGFR ligand amphiregulin (Areg); however, how Treg cells engage with progenitors within the alveolar niche is unknown. Here, we describe local interactions between Treg cells and an Areg-responsive population of Col14a1+EGFR+ lung mesenchymal cells that mediate type II alveolar epithelial (AT2) cell-mediated regeneration following influenza virus infection. We propose a mechanism whereby Treg cells are deployed to sites of damage and provide pro-survival cues that support mesenchymal programming of the alveolar niche. In the absence of fibroblast EGFR signaling, we observe impaired AT2 proliferation and disrupted lung remodeling following viral clearance, uncovering a crucial immune/mesenchymal/epithelial network that guides alveolar regeneration.

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Crossref · 10.1084/jem.20221462

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  • Treg cell-derived amphiregulin (Areg) promotes repair after acute tissue injury.

    “Production of amphiregulin (Areg) by regulatory T (Treg) cells promotes repair after acute tissue injury.”

    From Amphiregulin from regulatory T cells promotes liver fibrosis and insulin resistance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (2024) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Introduction and Results show that Treg cell–derived Areg promotes alveolar repair after influenza-induced lung injury. The claim omits that setting and presents the finding as applying to acute tissue injury generally, which this paper does not establish. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In acute injury settings, Treg cell-derived Areg is independent of Treg cell-mediated immunosuppression and acts on tissue-resident mesenchymal cells and stem cells, not immune cells.

    “In these settings, Treg cell-derived Areg is notably independent of Treg cell-mediated immunosuppression, and acts on tissue-resident mesenchymal cells and stem cells - not immune cells 25,26,28 .”

    From Amphiregulin from regulatory T cells promotes liver fibrosis and insulin resistance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (2024) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says Treg-derived Areg protects the lung during influenza infection without altering immune-cell infiltration or conventional T-cell responses, suggesting a role distinct from immunosuppression. The Discussion (page unavailable) identifies Col14+ mesenchymal cells as responsive to Treg-derived signals, but describes alveolar progenitor activation as indirect, through those stromal cells. It does not establish that Areg acts directly on stem cells or categorically never acts on immune cells. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Treg cells protect from epithelial cell injury by both interacting with immune cells to suppress inflammation and by producing epithelial growth factors that signal to non-immune cells.

    “Together, these studies suggest that Treg cells protect from epithelial cell injury by both interacting with immune cells to suppress inflammation and by producing epithelial growth factors that signal to non-immune cells.”

    From Amphiregulin from regulatory T cells promotes liver fibrosis and insulin resistance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (2024) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Discussion describes Treg-derived amphiregulin signaling to non-immune mesenchymal cells, which support alveolar epithelial repair after influenza injury. The Introduction acknowledges immunosuppression as a canonical Treg role but distinguishes the tissue-protective amphiregulin pathway from it; this paper does not establish that Treg interactions with immune cells suppress inflammation to protect the epithelium. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Areg Fl/Fl and Areg Fl/Fl Foxp3 YFP-cre mice do not differ in terms of immune infiltration in the setting of tissue damage and Treg cells from these mice exhibit similar functionalities in vitro.

    “prior work 25,28 and data in this study find that Areg Fl/Fl and Areg Fl/Fl Foxp3 YFP-cre mice do not differ in terms of immune infiltration in the setting of tissue damage and Treg cells from these mice exhibit similar functionalities in vitro.”

    From Amphiregulin from regulatory T cells promotes liver fibrosis and insulin resistance in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (2024) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Introduction states that mice lacking Treg-derived Areg have no alteration in immune-cell infiltrate during influenza infection. The Results section, “Treg cells uniquely infiltrate to sites of active viral infection,” also reports unchanged Treg numbers in the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage. Our copy does not establish that Treg cells from the two genotypes have similar functions in vitro; its in vitro co-culture method does not describe that comparison. No page numbers were provided. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Kaiser, K. A., Loffredo, L. F., Santos-Alexis, K. D. L., Ringham, O. R., & Arpaia, N.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA 1
Corresponding author
Arpaia, Nicholas
Venue
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Published
2022-12-19
Volume
220
Issue
3
ISSN
  • 0022-1007 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-9538
OpenAlex
W4312093673
Cited by
79
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 4
FWCI
5.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Experimental Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (K22AI127847, R21AI149657, T32AI106711)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL148718)
  • National Cancer Institute (P30CA013696)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Keywords
amphiregulin, regulatory T cells, alveolar regeneration, influenza, alveolar type II cells, EGFR signaling, lung remodeling, lung fibroblasts
MeSH terms
Humans, Influenza, Human, Lung, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, ErbB Receptors, Amphiregulin

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