NLRC4-driven interleukin-1β production discriminates between pathogenic and commensal bacteria and promotes host intestinal defense

Intestinal phagocytes transport oral antigens and promote immune tolerance, but their role in innate immune responses remains unclear. Here we report that intestinal phagocytes are anergic to Toll-like receptor ligands or commensals, but constitutively express pro-interleukin-1β (proIL-1β). Upon infection with pathogenic Salmonella or Pseudomonas, intestinal phagocytes produce mature IL-1β through the NLRC4 inflammasome, but not tumor necrosis factor or IL-6. Mice deficient in NLRC4 or IL-1 receptor on a Balb/c background were highly susceptible to orogastric but not intraperitoneal infection with Salmonella. Increased lethality was preceded by impaired expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, lower neutrophil recruitment, and poor intestinal pathogen clearance. Thus, NLRC4-dependent IL-1β production by intestinal phagocytes represents a specific response discriminating pathogenic from commensal bacteria and contributes to host defense in the intestine.