Reciprocal regulation of Th2 and stroma cells remodels mesenteric adipose tissue in type 2 inflammation

Adipose tissue (AT) contains mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in stages of commitment to becoming specialized tissue cells, including adipocytes and fibroblasts, and immune cells which support tissue homeostasis. How MSC and immune cells interact during infection is poorly understood. We show that during intestinal helminth infection MSC in mesenteric AT (mAT) become enriched in non-differentiated progenitor cells. This is accompanied by MSC-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming supporting increased secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM), IL-33, and TSLP. In parallel, Th2 resident memory (Th2RM) cells populate the mAT and persist after infection is resolved. These cells express Areg, TGFß and IL-5, and are necessary to promote infection induced changes within mAT, including MSC reprogramming and tissue eosinophilia. In turn, IL-33 and TSLP from MSC facilitate Th2RM activation and maintenance. Our findings link Th2RM cells to mAT remodeling during intestinal infection, underscoring the reciprocal dependence of stroma and resident immune cells for lasting tissue immunity. Overall design: Comprehensive single-cell atlas of CD45+ TCRb+ CD4+ T cells isolated form mesenteric fat, mesenteric lymph nodes and small intestine lamina propria from uninfected conditon and primary and secondary infection with the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri (H. polygyrus)