AUTHOR=Baranek Thomas , Morello Eric , Valayer Alexandre , Aimar Rose-France , Bréa Déborah , Henry Clemence , Besnard Anne-Gaelle , Dalloneau Emilie , Guillon Antoine , Dequin Pierre-François , Narni-Mancinelli Emilie , Vivier Eric , Laurent Fabrice , Wei Yu , Paget Christophe , Si-Tahar Mustapha 

TITLE=FHL2 Regulates Natural Killer Cell Development and Activation during Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00123

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2017.00123

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Recent <italic>in silico</italic> studies suggested that the transcription cofactor LIM-only protein FHL2 is a major transcriptional regulator of mouse natural killer (NK) cells. However, the expression and role of FHL2 in NK cell biology are unknown. Here, we confirm that FHL2 is expressed in both mouse and human NK cells. Using FHL2<sup>−/−</sup> mice, we found that FHL2 controls NK cell development in the bone marrow and maturation in peripheral organs. To evaluate the importance of FHL2 in NK cell activation, FHL2<sup>−/−</sup> mice were infected with <italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</italic>. FHL2<sup>−/−</sup> mice are highly susceptible to this infection. The activation of lung NK cells is altered in FHL2<sup>−/−</sup> mice, leading to decreased IFNγ production and a loss of control of bacterial burden. Collectively, our data reveal that FHL2 is a new transcription cofactor implicated in NK cell development and activation during pulmonary bacterial infection.</p>