T cell-derived Act1 is necessary for IL-25-mediated Th2 responses and allergic airway inflammation

J Immunol. 2011 Sep 15;187(6):3155-64. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002790. Epub 2011 Aug 19.

Abstract

The cellular and molecular mechanisms driven by IL-25 and its cognate receptor IL-17RB necessary for the promotion of Th2-mediating pathogenic pulmonary inflammation remains to be defined. We have previously reported the critical role of the U-box-type E3 ubiquitin ligase Act1 (1) for the downstream signaling of the IL-17 cytokine family including the Th2-promoting cytokine IL-25 (IL-17E) (2). In this study, we report that IL-25-driven but not conventional IL-4-driven Th2 polarization and cytokine production is impaired in Act1-deficient T cells. Also, Act1 deficiency in the T cell compartment results in the abrogation of eosinophilic airway infiltration as well as airway hyperresponsiveness in mouse models of Ag-induced airway inflammation. The in vivo generation of Ag-specific Th2 cytokine-producing cells is defective in the absence of Act1 expression in T cells after OVA/aluminum hydroxide immunization. Notably, the production of OVA-specific IgG(1) but not IgG(2a) or IgE is also impaired. At the molecular level, we report that IL-25-mediated induction of Th2 master regulator GATA-3 and the transcription factor GFI-1 is attenuated in Act1-deficient T cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that Act1 expression in T cells is required for cellular and humoral Th2-mediated allergic responses and the development of airway hyperresponsiveness, in part, through Act1's function in IL-25-induced development of Th2 T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / immunology*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukins / immunology*
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Pneumonia / immunology*
  • Pneumonia / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Interleukins
  • Mydgf protein, mouse
  • Traf3ip2 protein, mouse