Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced 3 Attributes to TLR7-Mediated Splenomegaly

Epstein-Barr virus-induced 3 (EBI3) functions as a component of the heterodimer cytokine IL-27, which regulates innate and acquired immune responses. The expression of EBI3 gene is induced by Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Repeated treatment with imiquimod (IMQ), a TLR7 agonist, induces splenomegaly and cytopaenia due to increased splenic function. Although immune cell activation is speculated to play a role in chronic infection-mediated splenomegaly, the detailed mechanisms remain unknown. This study shows that IMQ treatment induces marked splenomegaly and severe bicytopaenia (anaemia and thrombocytopaenia) in wild-type mice. In IMQ-treated mice, myeloid cell populations in the spleen increased, and extramedullary haematopoiesis was observed. RNA-seq analysis revealed the upregulation of type I interferon (IFN)-related genes in the spleens of IMQ-treated mice. IMQ-induced pathological changes were partially mitigated by EBI3 deficiency. To investigate the mechanism of the improved phenotypes in the Ebi3 KO mice, we examined the involvement of IL-27, a heterodimer of EBI3 and IL-27p28. The expression of Il27a, which encodes IL-27p28, was increased in the spleen and peripheral blood by IMQ treatment. Furthermore, IL-27 stimulation upregulated type I IFN-related genes in bone marrow-derived macrophage cultures without type I IFN. These findings suggest that EBI3 deficiency mitigated IMQ-mediated pathological changes, presumably via a lack of IL-27 formation. Our study thus provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic infection-mediated splenomegaly.