CARD9 in neutrophils protects from colitis and controls mitochondrial metabolism and cell survival

ObjectivesInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a combination of genetic predisposition, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and environmental factors, leading to alterations in the gastrointestinal immune response and chronic inflammation. Caspase recruitment domain 9 (Card9), one of the IBD susceptibility genes, has been shown to protect against intestinal inflammation and fungal infection. However, the cell types and mechanisms involved in the CARD9 protective role against inflammation remain unknown.DesignWe used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced and adoptive transfer colitis models in total and conditional CARD9 knock-out mice to uncover which cell types play a role in the CARD9 protective phenotype. The impact of Card9 deletion on neutrophil function was assessed by an in vivo model of fungal infection and various functional assays, including endpoint dilution assay, apoptosis assay by flow cytometry, proteomics and real time bioenergetic profile analysis (Seahorse).ResultsLymphocytes are not intrinsically involved in the CARD9 protective role against colitis. CARD9 expression in neutrophils, but not in epithelial or CD11c+ cells, protects against DSS-induced colitis. In the absence of CARD9, mitochondrial dysfunction in neutrophils leads to their premature death through apoptosis, especially in oxidative environment. The decrease of fonctional neutrophils in tissues could explain the impaired containment of fungi and increased susceptibility to intestinal inflammation.ConclusionThese results provide new insight into the role of CARD9 in neutrophil mitochondrial function and its involvement in intestinal inflammation, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies targeting neutrophils.Summary boxWhat is already known about this subject?Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from genetic predisposition, microbiota dysbiosis and environmental factors, but the alterations of the immune response leading to chronic intestinal inflammation are still not fully understood.Caspase recruitment domain 9 (Card9), one of the IBD susceptibility genes, has been shown to protect against intestinal inflammation and fungal infection.However, the cell types and cellular mechanisms involved in the CARD9 protective role against inflammation remain unknown.What are the new findings?CARD9 expression in neutrophils, but not in lymphocytes, epithelial cells or CD11c+ cells, protects against DSS-induced colitis.In the absence of CARD9, mitochondrial dysfunction in neutrophils leads to their premature death through apoptosis, especially in oxidative environment.The decrease of fonctional neutrophils in tissues could explain the impaired containment of fungi and increased susceptibility to intestinal inflammation.How might it impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?These results provide new insight into the role of CARD9 in neutrophil mitochondrial function and its involvement in intestinal inflammation.Understanding the role of neutrophils in chronic inflammation could lead to innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these key immune cells for various complex diseases.