Depletion of CD40 on CD11c⁺ cells worsens the metabolic syndrome and ameliorates hepatic inflammation during NASH

The co-stimulatory CD40-CD40L dyad plays a central role in fine-tuning immune reactions, including obesity-induced inflammation. Genetic ablation of CD40L reduced adipose tissue inflammation, while absence of CD40 resulted in aggravated metabolic dysfunction in mice. During obesity, CD40 expressing CD11c⁺ dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages accumulate in adipose tissue and liver. We investigated the role of CD40⁺CD11c⁺ cells in the metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). DC-CD40-ko mice (CD40^fl/flCD11c^cre) mice were subjected to obesity or NASH. Obesity and insulin resistance were induced by feeding mice a 54% high fat diet (HFD). NASH was induced by feeding mice a diet containing 40% fat, 20% fructose and 2% cholesterol. CD40^fl/flCD11c^cre mice fed a HFD displayed increased weight gain, increased adipocyte size, and worsened insulin resistance. Moreover, CD40^fl/flCD11c^cre mice had higher plasma and hepatic cholesterol levels and developed profound liver steatosis. Overall, regulatory T cell numbers were decreased in these mice. In NASH, absence of CD40 on CD11c⁺ cells slightly decreased liver inflammation but did not affect liver lipid accumulation. Our experiments suggest that CD40 expressing CD11c⁺ cells can act as a double-edged sword: CD40 expressing CD11c⁺ cells contribute to liver inflammation during NASH but are protective against the metabolic syndrome via induction of regulatory T cells.