The Alarmin IL-33 Promotes Regulatory T Cell Function in the Intestine

The Alarmin IL-33 Promotes Regulatory T Cell Function in the Intestine

2014 September 25 | Chris Schiering#1,6, Thomas Krausgruber#1, Agnieszka Chomka1, Anja Fröhlich4, Krista Adelmann1, Elizabeth A. Wohlfert2,7, Johanna Pott3, Thibault Griseri1, Julia Bollrath1, Ahmed N. Hegazy1, Oliver J. Harrison3, Benjamin M.J. Owens1, Max Löhning4, Yasmine Belkaid2, Padraic G. Fallon5, and Fiona Powrie1
IL-33 promotes regulatory T cell (Treg) function in the intestine. This study shows that the IL-33 receptor ST2 is preferentially expressed on colonic Treg cells, where it enhances Treg function and adaptation to inflammatory environments. IL-33 signaling stimulates Treg responses by enhancing TGF-β1-mediated differentiation and supporting Treg accumulation and maintenance in inflamed tissues. IL-23, a key pro-inflammatory cytokine in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), inhibits Treg responses by suppressing IL-33 responsiveness. These findings suggest a novel link between an endogenous damage signal and an anti-inflammatory pathway, with the balance between IL-33 and IL-23 playing a key role in intestinal immune responses. ST2 is highly expressed in colonic Treg cells, and its expression is regulated by GATA3. IL-33 activates GATA3 in Treg cells, promoting ST2 expression and enhancing Treg function. IL-33 also promotes its own receptor expression in Treg cells, creating an amplification loop that enhances Treg differentiation. IL-33 promotes Treg proliferation and accumulation in vivo, particularly in thymus-derived Treg cells. In chronic colitis models, IL-33 levels increase in the colon, and soluble ST2 (sST2) is elevated, which may limit IL-33 bioavailability and antagonize its activity. However, IL-33 signaling in Treg cells is essential for their suppressive function in vivo. IL-23 inhibits the effects of IL-33 on Treg cells by limiting their responsiveness to IL-33. This inhibition is mediated through the regulation of T cell responsiveness to IL-33, which is crucial for Treg differentiation. IL-23 also inhibits the expression of GATA3 and ST2, which are essential for Treg function. The balance between IL-33 and IL-23 is therefore a key determinant of intestinal immune responses. The study identifies a new function for IL-33 as a critical link between inflammation-driven tissue damage and the local intestinal Treg response. IL-33 signaling through ST2 in Treg cells is essential for their ability to adapt to the inflammatory environment and control intestinal inflammation. The ability of IL-33 to amplify regulatory networks in response to tissue injury may represent a general mechanism by which alarmins limit immune-mediated damage to self at barrier tissues. IL-23 limits this regulatory mechanism by inhibiting Treg cell responsiveness to IL-33, suggesting that the balance between IL-23 and IL-33 is a major determinant of the outcome of intestinal immune responses.IL-33 promotes regulatory T cell (Treg) function in the intestine. This study shows that the IL-33 receptor ST2 is preferentially expressed on colonic Treg cells, where it enhances Treg function and adaptation to inflammatory environments. IL-33 signaling stimulates Treg responses by enhancing TGF-β1-mediated differentiation and supporting Treg accumulation and maintenance in inflamed tissues. IL-23, a key pro-inflammatory cytokine in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), inhibits Treg responses by suppressing IL-33 responsiveness. These findings suggest a novel link between an endogenous damage signal and an anti-inflammatory pathway, with the balance between IL-33 and IL-23 playing a key role in intestinal immune responses. ST2 is highly expressed in colonic Treg cells, and its expression is regulated by GATA3. IL-33 activates GATA3 in Treg cells, promoting ST2 expression and enhancing Treg function. IL-33 also promotes its own receptor expression in Treg cells, creating an amplification loop that enhances Treg differentiation. IL-33 promotes Treg proliferation and accumulation in vivo, particularly in thymus-derived Treg cells. In chronic colitis models, IL-33 levels increase in the colon, and soluble ST2 (sST2) is elevated, which may limit IL-33 bioavailability and antagonize its activity. However, IL-33 signaling in Treg cells is essential for their suppressive function in vivo. IL-23 inhibits the effects of IL-33 on Treg cells by limiting their responsiveness to IL-33. This inhibition is mediated through the regulation of T cell responsiveness to IL-33, which is crucial for Treg differentiation. IL-23 also inhibits the expression of GATA3 and ST2, which are essential for Treg function. The balance between IL-33 and IL-23 is therefore a key determinant of intestinal immune responses. The study identifies a new function for IL-33 as a critical link between inflammation-driven tissue damage and the local intestinal Treg response. IL-33 signaling through ST2 in Treg cells is essential for their ability to adapt to the inflammatory environment and control intestinal inflammation. The ability of IL-33 to amplify regulatory networks in response to tissue injury may represent a general mechanism by which alarmins limit immune-mediated damage to self at barrier tissues. IL-23 limits this regulatory mechanism by inhibiting Treg cell responsiveness to IL-33, suggesting that the balance between IL-23 and IL-33 is a major determinant of the outcome of intestinal immune responses.
Reach us at info@study.space
[slides and audio] The Alarmin IL-33 Promotes Regulatory T Cell Function in the Intestine