Chronic viral infections persistently alter marrow stroma and impair hematopoietic stem cell fitness
Abstract
Chronic viral infections are associated with hematopoietic suppression, bone marrow (BM) failure, and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) exhaustion. However, how persistent viral challenge and inflammatory responses target BM tissues and perturb hematopoietic competence remains poorly understood. Here, we combine functional analyses with advanced 3D microscopy to demonstrate that chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus leads to (1) long-lasting decimation of the BM stromal network of mesenchymal CXCL12-abundant reticular cells, (2) proinflammatory transcriptional remodeling of remaining components of this key niche subset, and (3) durable functional defects and decreased competitive fitness in HSCs. Mechanistically, BM immunopathology is elicited by virus-specific, activated CD8 T cells, which accumulate in the BM via interferon-dependent mechanisms. Combined antibody-mediated inhibition of type I and II IFN pathways completely preempts degeneration of CARc and protects HSCs from chronic dysfunction. Hence, viral infections and ensuing immune reactions durably impact BM homeostasis by persistently decreasing the competitive fitness of HSCs and disrupting essential stromalderived, hematopoietic-supporting cues. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000515002Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Journal of Experimental MedicineVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Rockefeller University PressOrganisational unit
03625 - Oxenius, Annette / Oxenius, Annette
Funding
166078 - Antibody evolution during chronic viral infections: a functional and systems immunological approach (SNF)
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