Lymphotoxin β Receptor: a Crucial Role in Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Against Toxoplasma Gondii

The lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) plays an essential role in the initiation of immune responses to intracellular pathogens. In mice, the LTβR is crucial for surviving acute toxoplasmosis; however, until now, a functional analysis was largely incomplete. Here, we demonstrate that the LTβR is a key regulator required for the intricate balance of adaptive immune responses. -infected LTβR-deficient (LTβR) mice show globally altered interferon-γ (IFN-γ) regulation, reduced IFN-γ-controlled host effector molecule expression, impaired T cell functionality, and an absent anti-parasite-specific IgG response, resulting in a severe loss of immune control of the parasites. Reconstitution of LTβR mice with toxoplasma immune serum significantly prolongs survival following infection. Notably, analysis of RNA-seq data clearly indicates a specific effect of infection on the B cell response and isotype switching. This study uncovers the decisive role of the LTβR in cytokine regulation and adaptive immune responses to control .