Sirtuin 1 promotes Th2 responses and airway allergy by repressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ activity in dendritic cells

J Immunol. 2011 Nov 1;187(9):4517-29. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101493. Epub 2011 Sep 23.

Abstract

Sirtuins are a unique class of NAD(+)-dependent deacetylases that regulate diverse biological functions such as aging, metabolism, and stress resistance. Recently, it has been shown that sirtuins may have anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting proinflammatory transcription factors such as NF-κB. In contrast, we report in this study that pharmacological inhibition of sirtuins dampens adaptive Th2 responses and subsequent allergic inflammation by interfering with lung dendritic cell (DC) function in a mouse model of airway allergy. Using genetic engineering, we demonstrate that sirtuin 1 represses the activity of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in DCs, thereby favoring their maturation toward a pro-Th2 phenotype. This study reveals a previously unappreciated function of sirtuin 1 in the regulation of DC function and Th2 responses, thus shedding new light on our current knowledge on the regulation of inflammatory processes by sirtuins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / enzymology
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / genetics
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PPAR gamma / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism
  • Sirtuin 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sirtuin 1 / physiology*
  • Th2 Cells / enzymology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / pathology

Substances

  • PPAR gamma
  • Sirt1 protein, mouse
  • Sirtuin 1