The combination of food intake and the resident gut microbiota exposes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to numerous antigens. Intestinal epithelial cells (ECs) compose a physical barrier separating the internal organs from the gut microbiota and other pathogenic microorganisms entering the GI tract. Although anatomically contained, the gut microbiota is essential for developing appropriate host immunity. Thus, the mucosal immune system must simultaneously maintain homeostasis with the gut microbiota and protect against infection by pathogens. Maintenance of the gut microbiota requires epithelial cell-surface glycosylation, with fucose residues in particular. Epithelial fucosylation is mediated by the enzyme fucosyltransferase 2 (Fut2). Polymorphisms in the FUT2 gene are associated with the onset of multiple infectious and inflammatory diseases and metabolic syndrome in humans.

ILC3s regulate epithelial glycosylation. Commensal bacteria, including segmented filamentous bactiera (SFB), induce IL-22 production by ILC3. LT is produced by ILC3 in a commensal bacteria–independent manner. ILC3-derived IL-22 and LT cooperatively induce the production of Fut2 and subsequent epithelial fucosylation, which protects the host against Salmonella typhimurium infection.

Despite its importance, the mechanisms underlying epithelial fucosylation in the GI tract is not well understood. In particular, although commensals such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron induce epithelial fucosylation, how mucosal immune cells participate in this process is unknown. We used a combination of bacteriological, gnotobiological, and immunological techniques to elucidate the cellular and molecular basis of epithelial fucosylation by mucosal immune cells in mice, especially innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). To explore the role of ILCs in the induction and maintenance of epithelial fucosylation, we used genetically engineered mice lacking genes associated with the development and function of ILCs. To investigate the physiological functions of ILC-induced epithelial fucosylation, we used a Fut2-deficient mouse model of S. typhimurium infection.

The induction and maintenance of Fut2 expression and subsequent epithelial fucosylation in the GI tract required type 3 ILCs (ILC3s) that express the transcription factor RORγt and the cytokines interleukin-22 (IL-22) and lymphotoxin (LT). Commensal bacteria, including segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), induced fucosylation of intestinal columnar ECs and goblet cells. Expression of IL-22 by ILC3 required commensal bacteria, whereas LT was expressed in a commensal-independent manner. Ablation of IL-22 or LT in ILC3 resulted in a marked reduction in epithelial fucosylation, demonstrating that both cytokines are critical for the induction and regulation of epithelial fucosylation. Fucosylation of ECs in response to the intestinal pathogen S. typhimurium was also mediated by ILC3. Compared with control mice, Fut2-deficient mice were more susceptible to pathogenic inflammation as a result of S. typhimurium infection, suggesting that epithelial fucosylation contributes to host defense against S. typhimurium infection.

We demonstrate the critical role of the cytokines IL-22– and/or LT-producing ILC3 in the induction and regulation of intestinal epithelial fucosylation. We also show that ILC3-mediated epithelial fucosylation protects the host from invasion of S. typhimurium into the intestine. Our results provide important details of the glycosylation system and homeostatic responses created by the trilateral ILC3–EC–commensal axis in the intestine. Modulation of mucosal immune cell …