Reciprocal expression of enteric antimicrobial proteins in intestinal graft-versus-host disease

We recently demonstrated that expression of α-defensins, the major antimicrobial peptides produced by Paneth cells, was severely suppressed in mice with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In this study, we found that antibacterial lectin, regenerating islet-derived IIIγ (RegIIIγ) was upregulated in villous enterocytes, thus demonstrating the reciprocal control of enteric antimicrobial proteins in GVHD. Upregulation of RegIIIγ was mediated by a mechanism independent upon radiation-induced intestinal tract damage. MyD88-mediated signaling in intestinal epithelium was required for RegIIIγ upregulation in GVHD and antibiotic therapy downregulated RegIIIγ expression. These results suggest that MyD88-mediated sensing of the intestinal microbes disregulated in GVHD induces RegIIIγ upregulation in GVHD and argue a role for RegIIIγ in the pathogenesis of GVHD.