Bladder-resident ILC3 immune cells develop trained immunity after E. coli exposure, enhancing mucosal defense against recurrent urinary tract infections.
Trained immunity in bladder ILC3sFirst demonstration that bladder-resident innate lymphoid cells can develop immune memory to better fight recurring urinary tract infections
What the researchers found
Bladder-resident ILC3s develop trained immunity following uropathogenic E. coli exposure, enhancing their ability to defend against recurrent UTIs.
Why it matters
Recurrent UTIs affect millions and are increasingly treated with antibiotics that drive resistance. Harnessing trained immunity in bladder immune cells could provide a new antibiotic-free prevention strategy.
The numbers in context
ILC3 counts compared between UTI patients and healthy controls. Recurrent UTI mouse model with primary and secondary E. coli inoculation. Adoptive transfer of naive vs UPEC-trained ILC3s.
How the study worked
Preclinical study investigating ILC3 trained immunity induction and functional significance in mucosal defense against uropathogenic E. coli in a bladder model.
Who was studied
UTI patients (tissue samples) and recurrent UTI mouse model
What this study cannot tell us
Preclinical study — trained immunity in bladder ILC3s has not been demonstrated in humans. The mechanisms may differ between species.
How to read the evidence
Preclinical study providing novel mechanistic insight. Human applicability needs to be confirmed through translational research.
When this study was published
Published in 2025, representing a novel finding in mucosal trained immunity.
The bigger picture
Trained immunity — previously studied mainly in blood immune cells — is now shown to function at mucosal surfaces like the bladder. This expands our understanding of how the body can build innate defenses at infection-prone sites.
Questions still open
- Can bladder ILC3 trained immunity be therapeutically enhanced to prevent rUTIs in patients?
- How long does the trained immunity persist in bladder-resident ILC3s?
Common questions
What is trained immunity?
Could this help prevent recurring UTIs without antibiotics?
Read the original research
Trained Immunity in Bladder ILC3s Enhances Mucosal Defense Against Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections.
Biomedicines, 14(1)
Citation
Pei, Qiaoqiao; Liu, Jiaqi; Tang, Ziwen; Tan, Jiaqing; Han, Xu; Hu, Xinrong; Liang, Zhou; Li, Feng; Zhu, Changjian; Lin, Ruoni; Zheng, Ruilin; Shen, Jiani; Liu, Qinghua; Mao, Haiping; Wu, Kefei; Chen, Wei; Zhou, Yi. (2025). Trained Immunity in Bladder ILC3s Enhances Mucosal Defense Against Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections.. Biomedicines, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14010078