Epithelial-derived IL-18 regulates Th17 cell differentiation and Foxp3+ Treg cell function in the intestine

Harrison, O.J., Srinivasan, N., Pott, J., Schiering, C., Krausgruber, T., Ilott, N.E. and Maloy, K.J. (2015) Epithelial-derived IL-18 regulates Th17 cell differentiation and Foxp3+ Treg cell function in the intestine. Mucosal Immunology, 8, pp. 1226-1236. (doi: 10.1038/mi.2015.13) (PMID:25736457) (PMCID:PMC4368110)

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Abstract

Elevated levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) are found in many chronic inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and polymorphisms in the IL18R1–IL18RAP locus are associated with IBD susceptibility. IL-18 is an IL-1 family cytokine that has been proposed to promote barrier function in the intestine, but the effects of IL-18 on intestinal CD4+ T cells are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that IL-18R1 expression is enhanced on both effector and regulatory CD4+ T cells in the intestinal lamina propria, with T helper type 17 (Th17) cells exhibiting particularly high levels. We further show that, during steady state, intestinal epithelial cells constitutively secrete IL-18 that acts directly on IL-18R1-expressing CD4+ T cells to limit colonic Th17 cell differentiation, in part by antagonizing IL-1R1 signaling. In addition, although IL-18R1 is not required for colonic Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation, we found that IL-18R1 signaling was critical for Foxp3+ Treg cell–mediated control of intestinal inflammation, where it promoted the expression of key Treg effector molecules. Thus IL-18 is a key epithelial-derived cytokine that differentially regulates distinct subsets of intestinal CD4+ T cells during both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions, a finding with potential implications for treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Maloy, Professor Kevin
Authors: Harrison, O.J., Srinivasan, N., Pott, J., Schiering, C., Krausgruber, T., Ilott, N.E., and Maloy, K.J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Mucosal Immunology
Publisher:Springer Nature
ISSN:1933-0219
ISSN (Online):1935-3456
Published Online:04 March 2015

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