IL-18 stimulates IL-13-mediated IFN-gamma-sensitive host resistance in vivo

IL-4 and IL-13 are up-regulated during in vivo responses to many nematode parasites, but increasing evidence suggests that increases in IL-13 can also occur independently of the IL-4-dominant Th2 response. Blocking B7 after Trichuris muris inoculation inhibits resistance and IL-4 elevations, instead resulting in an IFN-gamma-dominant response associated with susceptibility. However, blocking IFN-gamma under these conditions restores IL-13-dependent resistance. In this study, we examined the mechanism of IL-13 up-regulation and associated protection during this in vivo immune response. CD4+ T cells and DX5+ TCR- cells were identified as the major producers of IL-13, and the DX5+ TCR- cells were phenotyped as NK cells, since they expressed CD11b, IL-2Rbeta and Ly49C but not c-kit or Fc epsilonRI. NK cell-derived IL-13 elevations were T cell-dependent, as CD4+ T cell depletion blocked IL-13 production by mesenteric lymph node cells and induced susceptibility. IL-13 expression was increased independently of IL-12; however, blocking IL-18 function inhibited IL-13 production and increased susceptibility. These results indicate that CD4+ T cells and NK cells are the major sources of IL-13 during the in vivo Th1 response induced by B7 blockade and that under these conditions, IL-18 is specifically required for the in vivo up-regulation of IL-13 production and associated host protection.     

MUC1 and MUC13 differentially regulate epithelial inflammation in response to inflammatory and infectious stimuli

The MUC1 cell-surface mucin is highly expressed on the gastric mucosal surface, while MUC13 is highly expressed on the intestinal mucosal surface. Polymorphisms in both MUC1 and MUC13 have been linked to inflammatory bowel diseases. MUC1 can act as a decoy molecule on the apical cell surface of epithelial cells and thereby limit bacterial adherence, infection, and inflammation. In this study, we examined whether and how MUC1 and MUC13 modulate infectious and inflammatory signaling. Using gastrointestinal tissue from Muc1- or Muc13-deficient mice in ex vivo culture, MUC1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing in MKN7 gastric epithelial cells, and MUC13 siRNA silencing in LS513 intestinal epithelial cells, we showed that loss of MUC1 increased chemokine secretion, whereas loss of MUC13 decreased chemokine secretion in response to tumor necrosis factor-α. Anti-inflammatory activity of MUC1 and pro-inflammatory activity of MUC13 were also seen after exposure to pathogens, NOD1 (nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-containing protein-1), and Toll-like receptor ligands. MUC1 and MUC13 both regulate chemokine secretion in gastrointestinal epithelial cells through a nuclear factor-κB-dependent pathway, although MUC13 modulation could also involve other pathways. Our studies demonstrate that MUC1 and MUC13 are important components of gastrointestinal homeostasis and that disruption or inappropriate expression of these mucins could predispose to infectious and inflammatory disease and inflammation-induced cancer.     

IL-13 regulates cilia loss and foxj1 expression in human airway epithelium

Mucociliary clearance is essential to the defense mechanisms of the respiratory system. Loss of normal mucociliary clearance contributes to the pathogenesis of genetic and acquired lung diseases. Treatment of cultured differentiated human airway epithelial tissue with IL-13 resulted in a loss of ciliated epithelial cells and an increase in mucus-secreting cells. The loss of ciliated cells was characterized by mislocation of basal bodies and loss of ezrin from the apical cell compartment. In addition to the loss of ciliated cells and increase in mucous cells after IL-13 treatment, cells with characteristics of both ciliated and mucous cells were observed in the airway epithelium. In association with the decrease in ciliated cells after IL-13 treatment, there was noted a decrease in foxj1 expression in the airway epithelium, characterized by a decrease in the number of foxj1-expressing cells. Within the foxj1 promoter, a STAT-binding element was identified and inhibition of foxj1 expression by STAT-6 and IL-13 was demonstrated. These findings suggest molecular and cellular mechanisms for cilia loss in pulmonary disease. Inhibition of foxj1 expression results in loss of apical localization of ezrin and basal bodies with subsequent loss of axonemal structures. These findings have important implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of airway diseases.     

The IL-33 receptor (ST2) regulates early IL-13 production in fungus-induced allergic airway inflammation

Allergic airway inflammation (AAI) in response to environmental antigens is an increasing medical problem, especially in the Western world. Type 2 interleukins (IL) are central in the pathological response but their importance and cellular source(s) often rely on the particular allergen. Here, we highlight the cellular sources and regulation of the prototypic type 2 cytokine, IL-13, during the establishment of AAI in a fungal infection model using Cryptococcus neoformans. IL-13 reporter mice revealed a rapid onset of IL-13 competence within innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2) and IL-33R⁺ T helper (Th) cells. ILC2 showed IL-33-dependent proliferation upon infection and significant IL-13 production. Th cells essentially required IL-33 to become either GATA3⁺ or GATA3⁺/Foxp3⁺ hybrids. GATA3⁺ Th cells almost exclusively contributed to IL-13 production but hybrid GATA3⁺/Foxp3⁺ Th cells did not. In addition, alveolar macrophages upregulated the IL-33R and subsequently acquired a phenotype of alternative activation (Ym1⁺, FIZZ1⁺, and arginase-1⁺) linked to type 2 immunity. Absence of adaptive immunity in rag2^−/− mice resulted in attenuated AAI, revealing the need for Th2 cells for full AAI development. Taken together, in pulmonary cryptococcosis ILC2 and GATA3⁺ Th2 cells produce early IL-13 largely IL-33R-dependent, thereby promoting goblet cell metaplasia, pulmonary eosinophilia, and alternative activation of alveolar macrophages.     

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) enhances innate IL-12-mediated resistance to Toxoplasma gondii

Innate resistance to Toxoplasma gondii is dependent on the ability of interleukin-12 (IL-12) to stimulate natural killer (NK) cell production of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). Since IL-18 is a potent enhancer of IL-12-induced production of IFN-gamma by NK cells, SCID mice (which lack an adaptive immune response) were used to assess the role of IL-18 in innate resistance to T. gondii. Administration of anti-IL-18 to SCID mice infected with T. gondii resulted in an early reduction in serum levels of IFN-gamma but did not significantly decrease resistance to this infection. In contrast, administration of exogenous IL-18 to infected SCID mice resulted in increased production of IFN-gamma, reduced parasite burden, and a delay in time to death. The protective effects of IL-18 treatment correlated with increased NK cell numbers and cytotoxic activity at the local site of administration and with elevated levels of inducible nitrous oxide synthose in the spleens of treated mice. In addition, in vivo depletion studies demonstrated that the ability of exogenous IL-18 to enhance resistance to T. gondii was dependent on IL-12, IFN-gamma, and NK cells. Together, these studies demonstrate that although endogenous IL-18 appears to have a limited role in innate resistance to T. gondii, treatment with IL-18 can augment NK cell-mediated immunity to this pathogen.     

IL-10 regulates early IL-12-mediated immune responses induced by the radiation-attenuated schistosome vaccine

Radiation-attenuated (RA) schistosomes penetrate the host via the skin where they stimulate intense inflammatory reactions and the release of pro-inflammatory IL-12, important for T(h)1-type immune responses which are partially host protective. However, RA larvae also induce the secretion of regulatory IL-10. We now show that following vaccination of IL-12p40(-/-) mice, abundant IL-10 was produced by in vitro cultured skin biopsies between days 4 and 14, corresponding to the down-regulation of MHC II expression by cells in the dermis and cells that emigrate from the skin. In IL-10(-/-) mice, inflammation of the vaccination site was increased with larger numbers of IL-12p40(+), MHC II(+) and CD86(+) cells in the dermal exudate, and was associated with elevated levels of skin-derived IL-12p40 and IL-1beta. These changes in IL-10(-/-) mice were also reflected by an increased number of cells in the skin-draining lymph nodes (sdLN) and greater levels of lymphocyte proliferation. Moreover, such mice had increased numbers of CD4(+) sdLN cells that were CD25(+), CD28(+) or CD152(+) and accessory cells that were CD40(+) or MHC II(+). Finally, the secretion of IFN-gamma (and IL-12p40) by in vitro cultured sdLN cells was substantially raised in IL-10(-/-) mice, but much reduced in IL-12p40(-/-) mice, resulting in the development of highly polarized T(h)1 and T(h)2 cytokine profiles in the two groups of mice respectively. We conclude that IL-10 has an important role early in the regulation of IL-12-mediated priming of acquired immune responses, and effectively contains excessive dermal inflammation and prevents the development of highly polarized T(h)1-type responses.     

IL-12 regulates bone marrow eosinophilia and airway eotaxin levels induced by airway allergen exposure

BACKGROUND: Airway allergen exposure causes local eosinophilic cell infiltration. This cellular inflammatory response is likely to involve the release of eosinophils from peripheral storage pools, and possibly also regeneration of eosinophils in the bone marrow. IL-12 is an inhibitory cytokine in allergic inflammation, shown to reduce eosinophilic cell infiltration. The aim of the present study was to determine whether airway allergen exposure increases bone marrow eosinophil production, and, if so, whether IL-12 modulates this effect. METHODS: Ovalbumin-sensitized C57BL/6 mice and IL-12 knockout (KO) mice were exposed to allergen via the airway route, and the inflammatory cell response was evaluated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood, and bone marrow. RESULTS: Allergen instillation intranasally produced a dose-dependent inflammatory response in the lower airways of sensitized mice. This inflammatory response was dominated by eosinophils, but there were also increases of both lymphocytes and neutrophils. Sensitization and airway allergen exposure also increased the IL-5-dependent growth of bone marrow cells in vitro. The enhanced bone marrow responsiveness in vitro was paralleled by an increased number of bone marrow eosinophils in vivo. After sensitization and repeated allergen exposure, IL-12 KO mice showed higher eosinophil levels in both BAL and bone marrow than parallel wild-type control mice. Furthermore, BAL-eotaxin levels were increased in IL-12 KO mice as opposed to parallel wild-type controls after allergen exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Airway allergen exposure induced systemic immunologic responses, including increased eosinophil numbers in both airways and bone marrow, and also enhanced IL-5 responsiveness in bone marrow cells. IL-12 may regulate airway eosinophilia at both the level of eosinophilopoiesis and the level of local recruitment of eosinophils into the airways.     

白介素13通过FOXA2调控气道上皮细胞粘液分泌

目的:研究白介素13(Interleukin-13,IL-13)对气道上皮细胞粘液分泌的效应并探讨其作用机制。方法:HBE16细胞在无血清培养基中培养24小时后加入IL-13刺激24小时,ELISA检测粘蛋白(MUC)5AC的表达;Western检测磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶1/2(Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2,ERK1/2)和磷酸化c-Jun氨基端激酶1/2(c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2,JNK1/2的表达;使用SP600125阻滞JNK信号通路后检测MUC5AC蛋白表达;RT-PCR检测STAT4和STAT6的表达变化;EMSA检测通路下游核蛋白FOXA2的表达。结果:IL-13刺激24小时后MUC5AC和p-JNK1/2表达升高,而p-ERK1/2表达无显著变化;使用SP600125阻断JNK通路表达后,MUC5AC表达减弱;IL-13刺激后STAT4表达无显著变化,STAT6表达显著升高,FOXA2表达显著降低。结论:IL-13通过JNK-STAT6-FOXA2通路调控粘液分泌。     

IRAK and TAK1 are required for IL-18-mediated signaling.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated macrophages, plays significant roles in the immune response, inducing the secretion of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2, enhancing NK cell activity and potentiating the differentiation of Th1 cells. The intercellular signal transduction pathways through which IL-18 functions have not been thoroughly defined. We have generated a mutant cell line, I1A, that lacks the IRAK protein. In this line which has low or no expression of the other known IRAK family members, we find that the IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) is essential for the activation of NFkappaB and JNK in response to IL-18. Furthermore, the death domain, but not the kinase activity of IRAK, is necessary for NFkappaB activation in response to IL-18. Interestingly, the N-proximal undetermined region of IRAK is necessary for NFkappaB activation, but not for JNK activation in response to IL-18, indicating IRAK may be a branchpoint in IL-18 signaling. In addition to IRAK, we implicate two other components in IL-18 signaling, TAK1 (TGF-beta-activated kinase 1) and its activator and substrate TAB1. A dominant negative mutant of TAK1 inhibits the IL-18-mediated NFkappaB activation, while IL-18 stimulation leads to the phosphorylation of TAB1. Finally, analysis of IL-18 signaling in IL-1-unresponsive mutant cell lines suggests that the IL-1- and IL-18-mediated pathways are similar, but may not be identical.     

Nonredundant roles of TIRAP and MyD88 in airway response to endotoxin, independent of TRIF, IL-1 and IL-18 pathways

Inhaled endotoxins induce an acute inflammatory response in the airways mediated through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). However, the relative roles of the TLR4 adaptor proteins TIRAP and TRIF and of the MyD88-dependent IL-1 and IL-18 receptor pathways in this response are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that endotoxin-induced acute bronchoconstriction, vascular damage resulting in protein leak, Th1 cytokine and chemokine secretion and neutrophil recruitment in the airways are abrogated in mice deficient for either TIRAP or MyD88, but not in TRIF deficient mice. The contribution of other TLR-independent, MyD88-dependent signaling pathways was investigated in IL-1R1, IL-18R and caspase-1 (ICE)-deficient mice, which displayed normal airway responses to endotoxin. In conclusion, the TLR4-mediated, bronchoconstriction and acute inflammatory lung pathology to inhaled endotoxin critically depend on the expression of both adaptor proteins, TIRAP and MyD88, suggesting cooperative roles, while TRIF, IL-1R1, IL-18R signaling pathways are dispensable.     

The leukocyte integrin antagonist Del-1 inhibits IL-17-mediated inflammatory bone loss

Aging is linked to greater susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases, several of which, including periodontitis, involve neutrophil-mediated tissue injury. Here we found that aging-associated periodontitis was accompanied by lower expression of Del-1, an endogenous inhibitor of neutrophil adhesion dependent on the integrin LFA-1, and by reciprocal higher expression of interleukin 17 (IL-17). Consistent with that, IL-17 inhibited gingival endothelial cell expression of Del-1, thereby promoting LFA-1-dependent recruitment of neutrophils. Young Del-1-deficient mice developed spontaneous periodontitis that featured excessive neutrophil infiltration and IL-17 expression; disease was prevented in mice doubly deficient in Del-1 and LFA-1 or in Del-1 and the IL-17 receptor. Locally administered Del-1 inhibited IL-17 production, neutrophil accumulation and bone loss. Therefore, Del-1 suppressed LFA-1-dependent recruitment of neutrophils and IL-17-triggered inflammatory pathology and may thus be a promising therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.     

Myoblasts produce IL-6 in response to inflammatory stimuli

Muscle fibers are the target of T cell-mediated cytotoxic reactions in polymyositis and inclusion body myositis, while the success of myoblast transplantation depends on the absence of an immune rejection against the myofibers. In order to study the behaviour of muscle cells in an inflammatory milieu, we investigated the production of IL-6 and its modulation, including the second messenger pathways controlling it, in in vitro highly purified human myoblast cultures. We found that IL- 1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated myoblast IL-6 secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas forskolin and cholera toxin did not. HA1004 at 10 microM did not significantly affect the IL-1beta- and TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 secretion, suggesting that cAMP and protein kinase A are not sufficient to stimulate this process. To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in this signal transduction, we employed the inhibitor calphostin C, and the activators phorbol-12-myristate-13- acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187. Calphostin C blocked IL-6 secretion, PMA had a small stimulatory effect and A23187 had no effect; moreover, PKC down-regulation by PMA did not inhibit IL-1beta stimulation, while it reduced TNF-alpha stimulation. These data indicate that different PKC isoforms may be involved in TNF-alpha and IL-1beta signal transduction. Such a difference can distinguish the action of two traditionally 'overlapping' inflammatory cytokines. Our data suggest that muscle cells, like myoblasts, satellite cells and in vivo regenerating myofibers, may discriminate between different stimuli and produce IL-6 when activated in response to muscle injury.