73 : Regulation and function of IL-1F11-producing lung resident cells

The lung, essential for providing sufficient oxygen to the host harbors a large mucosal surface that is constantly exposed to respiratory viruses and bacteria. Recognition and rapid clearance of pathogens by the innate immune system provide the first line of defense, however, excessive activation can lead to pathological inflammatory consequences. Although our knowledge of immune maintenance and response in the lung is limited, it is becoming increasingly clear that non-hematopoietic cells including endothelial and epithelial cells exert key functions in regulating innate and adaptive immunity. Interestingly, these cells have been shown to constitute a major source of IL-1F11, a key immune mediator in initiating early lung inflammation and regulating late immune responses to viral challenge. Here, we describe advanced isolation and culture methods of primary murine lung resident cells and detail their qualitative traits upon infection with the respiratory pathogen Influenza A virus (IAV). We further examine IL-1F11 expression and release and its contribution to inflammatory lung pathology and immunity to IAV. Our observations highlight the critical involvement of IL-1F11 in lung immunity to viral infection and identify lung resident cells as central regulators of excessive immunopathology.