Regulatory T Cells Could Improve Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Heatstroke

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Gastroenterology
• Physiology

Background:

• Intestinal barrier dysfunction is critical in heatstroke (HS) multiorgan damage.
• Neutrophils contribute to intestinal inflammation and barrier damage in HS.
• Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known to regulate neutrophils in other inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of Tregs in mitigating HS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.
• To determine if Tregs can alleviate intestinal injury and barrier defects following heat stress.
• To explore the mechanism by which Tregs might influence intestinal integrity during HS.

Main Methods:

• Induction of HS in a mouse model.
• Assessment of intestinal injury and barrier function at various time points post-HS.
• Flow cytometry to quantify neutrophil and Treg populations in the small intestinal epithelium.
• Treg depletion and adoptive transfer experiments.
• Evaluation of neutrophil infiltration following Treg manipulation.

Main Results:

• Heatstroke induced significant intestinal injury and barrier dysfunction.
• Neutrophil infiltration increased, while Treg frequencies decreased in the small intestine post-HS.
• Treg depletion worsened HS-induced intestinal damage.
• Adoptive transfer of Tregs ameliorated intestinal injury and barrier dysfunction.
• Treg manipulation altered neutrophil frequencies in the intestine.

Conclusions:

• Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a protective role against heatstroke-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.
• Tregs may exert their beneficial effects by modulating neutrophil activity within the intestine.
• These findings highlight Tregs as a potential therapeutic target for managing heatstroke complications.