Type 1 interferon-dependent repression of NLRC4 and iPLA2 licenses down-regulation ofSalmonellaflagellin inside macrophages

Abstract

Inflammasomes have been implicated in the detection and clearance of a variety of bacterial pathogens, but little is known about whether this innate sensing mechanism has any regulatory effect on the expression of stimulatory ligands by the pathogen. During infection withSalmonellaand many other pathogens, flagellin is a major activator of NLRC4 inflammasome-mediated macrophage pyroptosis and pathogen eradication.Salmonellaswitches to a flagellin-low phenotype as infection progresses to avoid this mechanism of clearance by the host. However, the host cues thatSalmonellaperceives to undergo this switch remain unclear. Here, we report an unexpected role of the NLRC4 inflammasome in promoting expression of its microbial ligand, flagellin, and identify a role for type 1 IFN signaling in switching ofSalmonellato a flagellin-low phenotype. Early in infection, activation of NLRC4 by flagellin initiates pyroptosis and concomitant release of lysophospholipids which in turn enhance expression of flagellin bySalmonellathereby amplifying its ability to elicit cell death. TRIF-dependent production of type 1 IFN, however, later represses NLRC4 and the lysophospholipid biosynthetic enzyme iPLA2, causing a decline in intracellular lysophospholipids that results in down-regulation of flagellin expression bySalmonella. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized immune-modulating regulatory cross-talk between endosomal TLR signaling and cytosolic NLR activation with significant implications for the establishment of infection withSalmonella.