Work

Homotypic interactions between SLAMF1 receptors on innate T cells and neutrophils regulate killing of fungi

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Innate lymphocytes and myeloid cells communicate and play an essential part in activating neutrophils and other effector cells to kill fungi. Here, we identified that Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule 1 (SLAMF1) orchestrates a cellular and molecular signaling network that activates phagocytes. We uncovered innate lymphocytes including innate CD4+ or TCRγδ+ T cells augment neutrophil killing of Blastomyces dermatitidis (Bd) in a SLAMF1 dependent manner. SLAMF1 expression on neutrophils enabled homotypic SLAMF1:SLAMF1 interactions with innate CD4+ T cells, which released soluble factors that activated neutrophils to kill fungi. Our work furnishes new mechanistic insight about the role of SLAMF1 in mobilizing innate immune cells to induce phagocyte-driven killing of inhaled fungi.

Source: PLoS Pathogens

DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1014282

Authors: Lindsay Suarez Lau, Sarah Lichtenberger, Cleison Ledesma Taira, Bruce S. Klein, Marcel Wüthrich

Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,043