The cytokines interleukin 27 and interferon-? promote distinct Treg cell populations required to limit infection-induced pathology.

ABSTRACT: Interferon-? (IFN-?) promotes a population of T-bet(+) CXCR3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells that limit T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated pathology. Our studies demonstrate that interleukin-27 (IL-27) also promoted expression of T-bet and CXCR3 in Treg cells. During infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a similar population emerged that limited T cell responses and was dependent on IFN-? in the periphery but on IL-27 at mucosal sites. Transfer of Treg cells ameliorated the infection-induced pathology observed in Il27(-/-) mice, and this was dependent on their ability to produce IL-10. Microarray analysis revealed that Treg cells exposed to either IFN-? or IL-27 have distinct transcriptional profiles. Thus, IFN-? and IL-27 have different roles in Treg cell biology and IL-27 is a key cytokine that promotes the development of Treg cells specialized to control Th1 cell-mediated immunity at local sites of inflammation.

SUBMITTER: Hall AO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3477519 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature