Type 3 innate lymphoid cell-derived lymphotoxin prevents microbiota-dependent inflammation

Splenomegaly is a well-known phenomenon typically associated with inflammation. However, the underlying cause of this phenotype has not been well characterized. Furthermore, the splenomegaly phenotype seen in lymphotoxin (LT) signaling-deficient mice is characterized by increased numbers of splenocytes and splenic neutrophils. Splenomegaly, as well as the related phenotype of increased lymphocyte counts in non-lymphoid tissues, is thought to result from the absence of secondary lymphoid tissues in LT-deficient mice. We now present evidence that mice deficient in LTα₁β₂ or LTβR develop splenomegaly and increased numbers of lymphocytes in non-lymphoid tissues in a microbiota-dependent manner. Antibiotic administration to LTα₁β₂- or LTβR-deficient mice reduces splenomegaly. Furthermore, re-derived germ-free Ltbr^−/− mice do not exhibit splenomegaly or increased inflammation in non-lymphoid tissues compared to specific pathogen-free Ltbr^−/− mice. By using various LTβ- and LTβR-conditional knockout mice, we demonstrate that retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γT-positive type 3 innate lymphoid cells provide the required active LT signaling to prevent the development of splenomegaly. Thus, this study demonstrates the importance of LT-mediated immune responses for the prevention of splenomegaly and systemic inflammation induced by microbiota.