Project description:Memory CD4+ T helper (Th) cells are crucial for acquired immunity and protection from infectious microorganisms, and also drive pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. ST2hi memory-type Th2 cells have been identified as a pathogenic subpopulation capable of directly inducing eosinophilic airway inflammation. These ST2hi pathogenic Th2 cells produce large amounts of IL-5 upon stimulation via their TCR, but not in response to IL-33. In contrast, IL-33 alone induces cytokine production in ST2+ group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). We investigated the molecular mechanism that controls the innate function of IL-33-induced cytokine production, and identified a MAPK phosphatase Dusp10, as a key negative regulator of IL-33–induced cytokine production in Th2 cells. We found that Dusp10 is expressed by ST2hi pathogenic Th2 cells but not by ILC2, and Dusp10 expression inhibits IL-33-induced cytokine production by preventing GATA3 activity through inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Strikingly, deletion of Dusp10 rendered ST2hi Th2 cells able to directly respond to IL-33 exposure and produce IL-5. Thus, DUSP10 constrains IL-33–induced cytokine production in ST2hi pathogenic Th2 cells by controlling p38-mediated GATA3 function.
Project description:ST2hi memory-type Th2 cells are identified as a pathogenic subpopulation in eosinophilic airway inflammation. These ST2hi pathogenic Th2 cells produce large amount of IL-5 upon T cell receptor stimulation, but not in response to IL-33 treatment. By contrast, IL-33 alone induces cytokine production in ST2+ group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). Here we show that a MAPK phosphatase Dusp10 is a key negative regulator of IL-33-induced cytokine production in Th2 cells. In this regard, Dusp10 is expressed by ST2hi pathogenic Th2 cells but not by ILC2, and Dusp10 expression inhibits IL-33-induced cytokine production. Mechanistically, this inhibition is mediated by DUSP10-mediated dephosphorylation and inactivation of p38 MAPK, resulting in reduced GATA3 activity. The deletion of Dusp10 renders ST2hi Th2 cells capable of producing IL-5 by IL-33 stimulation. Our data thus suggest that DUSP10 restricts IL-33-induced cytokine production in ST2hi pathogenic Th2 cells by controlling p38-GATA3 activity.
Project description:This study reveraled that androgen signaling suppresses differentiation and cytokine production of Th2 cells by inducing DUSP-2, explaining, in part, the sex bias of asthma after adolescence.
Project description:Allergic asthma and rhinitis are two common chronic allergic diseases that affect the lungs and nose, respectively. Both diseases share clinical and pathological features characteristic of excessive allergen-induced type 2 inflammation, orchestrated by memory CD4+ T cells that produce type 2 cytokines (TH2 cells). However, a large majority of subjects with allergic rhinitis do not develop asthma, suggesting divergence in disease mechanisms. Since TH2 cells play a pathogenic role in both these diseases and are also present in healthy non-allergic subjects, we performed global transcriptional profiling to determine whether there are qualitative differences in TH2 cells from subjects with allergic asthma, rhinitis and healthy controls. TH2 cells from asthmatic subjects expressed higher levels of several genes that promote their survival as well as alter their metabolic pathways to favor persistence at sites of allergic inflammation. In addition, genes that enhanced TH2 polarization and TH2 cytokine production were also upregulated in asthma. Several genes that oppose T cell activation were downregulated in asthma, suggesting enhanced activation potential of TH2 cells from asthmatic subjects. Many novel genes with poorly defined functions were also differentially expressed in asthma. Thus, our transcriptomic analysis of circulating TH2 cells has identified several molecules that are likely to confer pathogenic features to TH2 cells that are either unique or common to both asthma and rhinitis.
Project description:Allergic conjunctivitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by severe itch in the conjunctiva; but how neuro-immune interactions shape the pathogenesis of severe itch remains unclear. We identified a subset of memory-type pathogenic Th2 cells that preferentially expressed Il1rl1-encoding ST2 and Calca-encoding calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the inflammatory conjunctiva using a single-cell analysis. The IL-33-ST2 axis in memory Th2 cells controlled the axonal elongation of the peripheral sensory C-fiber and the induction of severe itch. Pharmacological blockade and genetic deletion of CGRP signaling in vivo attenuated scratching behavior. The analysis of giant papillae from patients with severe allergic conjunctivitis revealed ectopic lymphoid structure formation with the accumulation of IL-33-producing epithelial cells and CGRP-producing pathogenic CD4+ T cells accompanied by peripheral nerve elongation. Thus, the IL-33-ST2-CGRP axis directs severe itch with neuro-reconstruction in the inflammatory conjunctiva and is a potential therapeutic target for severe itch in allergic conjunctivitis.
Project description:Pathogenesis of allergic diseases including asthma is strongly associated with robust responses of allergen-specific Th2 cells, which produce high levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. Despite evidence for pathogenic Th2 cells in the induction and propagation of allergic disorders, signals required for differentiation of such cells remain largely unknown. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine that is expressed upon epithelial injury, dysfunction or infection and is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma. Although indirect regulation of Th2 differentiation via TSLP-stimulated dendritic cells well known, direct effects of TSLP on Th2 differentiation in vivo have not been rigorously analyzed. We show that TSLP may initiate Th2 response independent on IL-4 signal and increases sensitivity of CD4 cells to IL-4 stimulation inducing more robust expression of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 by human and mouse CD4 cells. This more potent effector state appears to be stably programmed in memory Th2 cells. As part of molecular mechanism, we demonstrate that TSLP and IL-4 signals induce distinctive genome wide alterations in activating histone modification (H3K27Ac, H3K36Me3, and H3K4Me3). We propose that TSLP acts in coordination with IL-4 to generate a more potent Th2 state that could underlie persistence and propagation of allergic disorders.
Project description:Antigenic stimulation through cross-linking the IgE receptor and epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 are potent stimuli of mast cell (MC) activation. Moreover, IL-33 primes a variety of cell types, including MCs to respond more vigorously to external stimuli. However, target genes induced by the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation have not been investigated in human skin mast cells (HSMCs) in a genome-wide manner. Furthermore, epigenetic changes induced by the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation have not been evaluated. In this study, we found that IL-33 priming of HSMCs enhanced their capacity to promote transcriptional synergy of the IL1B and CXCL8 genes by 16- and 3-fold, respectively, in response to combined IL-33 and antigen stimulation compared to without IL-33 priming. We identified the target genes in IL-33-primed HSMCs in response to the combined IL-33 and antigenic stimulation using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We found that the majority of genes synergistically upregulated in the IL-33-primed HSMCs in response to the combined IL-33 and antigenic stimulation were predominantly proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes. Moreover, the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation increase chromatin accessibility in the synergy target genes but not synergistically. Transcription factor binding motif analysis revealed more binding sites for NF-κB, AP-1, GABPA, and RAP1 in the induced or increased chromatin accessible regions of the synergy target genes. Our study demonstrates that IL-33 priming greatly potentiates MCs’ ability to transcribe proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes in response to antigenic stimulation, shining light on how epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 can cause exacerbation of skin MC-mediated allergic inflammation.
Project description:Antigenic stimulation through cross-linking the IgE receptor and epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 are potent stimuli of mast cell (MC) activation. Moreover, IL-33 primes a variety of cell types, including MCs to respond more vigorously to external stimuli. However, target genes induced by the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation have not been investigated in human skin mast cells (HSMCs) in a genome-wide manner. Furthermore, epigenetic changes induced by the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation have not been evaluated. In this study, we found that IL-33 priming of HSMCs enhanced their capacity to promote transcriptional synergy of the IL1B and CXCL8 genes by 16- and 3-fold, respectively, in response to combined IL-33 and antigen stimulation compared to without IL-33 priming. We identified the target genes in IL-33-primed HSMCs in response to the combined IL-33 and antigenic stimulation using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We found that the majority of genes synergistically upregulated in the IL-33-primed HSMCs in response to the combined IL-33 and antigenic stimulation were predominantly proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes. Moreover, the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation increase chromatin accessibility in the synergy target genes but not synergistically. Transcription factor binding motif analysis revealed more binding sites for NF-κB, AP-1, GABPA, and RAP1 in the induced or increased chromatin accessible regions of the synergy target genes. Our study demonstrates that IL-33 priming greatly potentiates MCs’ ability to transcribe proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes in response to antigenic stimulation, shining light on how epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 can cause exacerbation of skin MC-mediated allergic inflammation.
Project description:Antigenic stimulation through cross-linking the IgE receptor and epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 are potent stimuli of mast cell (MC) activation. Moreover, IL-33 primes a variety of cell types, including MCs to respond more vigorously to external stimuli. However, target genes induced by the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation have not been investigated in human skin mast cells (HSMCs) in a genome-wide manner. Furthermore, epigenetic changes induced by the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation have not been evaluated. In this study, we found that IL-33 priming of HSMCs enhanced their capacity to promote transcriptional synergy of the IL1B and CXCL8 genes by 16- and 3-fold, respectively, in response to combined IL-33 and antigen stimulation compared to without IL-33 priming. We identified the target genes in IL-33-primed HSMCs in response to the combined IL-33 and antigenic stimulation using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We found that the majority of genes synergistically upregulated in the IL-33-primed HSMCs in response to the combined IL-33 and antigenic stimulation were predominantly proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes. Moreover, the combined IL-33 priming and antigenic stimulation increase chromatin accessibility in the synergy target genes but not synergistically. Transcription factor binding motif analysis revealed more binding sites for NF-κB, AP-1, GABPA, and RAP1 in the induced or increased chromatin accessible regions of the synergy target genes. Our study demonstrates that IL-33 priming greatly potentiates MCs’ ability to transcribe proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes in response to antigenic stimulation, shining light on how epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 can cause exacerbation of skin MC-mediated allergic inflammation.