Impaired activation of succinate-induced type 2 immunity and secretory cell production in the small intestines of Ptk6−/− male mice

Protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) is an intracellular tyrosine kinase that is distantly related to the SRC family of tyrosine kinases. It is expressed in epithelial linings and regulates regeneration and repair of the intestinal epithelium. Analysis of publicly available datasets showed Ptk6 is upregulated in tuft cells upon activation of type 2 immunity. We found that disruption of Ptk6 influences gene expression involved in intestinal immune responses. Administration of succinate, which mimics infection and activates tuft cells, revealed PTK6-dependent activation of innate immune responses in male but not female mice. In contrast to all wild type and Ptk6-/- female mice, Ptk6-/- male mice do not activate innate immunity or upregulate differentiation of the tuft and goblet secretory cell lineages following succinate treatment. Mechanistically, we found that PTK6 regulates Il25 and Irag2, genes that are required for tuft cell effector functions and activation of type 2 innate immunity, in organoids derived from intestines of male but not female mice. In patients with Crohn's disease, PTK6 is upregulated in tuft cells in noninflamed regions of intestine. These data highlight roles for PTK6 in contributing to sex differences in intestinal innate immunity and provide new insights into the regulation of IL-25.