Sofia Buonocore

Innate lymphoid cells drive interleukin-23-dependent innate intestinal pathology.

The key role of interleukin (IL)-23 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders is supported by the identification of IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) susceptibility alleles associated with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. IL-23-driven inflammation has primarily been linked to the actions of T-helper type 17 (TH17) cells. Somewhat overlooked, IL-23 also has inflammatory effects on innate immune cells and can drive T-cell-independent colitis. However, the downstream cellular and molecular pathways involved in this innate intestinal inflammatory response are poorly characterized. Here we show that bacteria-driven innate colitis is associated with an increased production of IL-17 and interferon-γ in the colon. Stimulation of colonic leukocytes with IL-23 induced the production of IL-17 and interferon-γ exclusively by innate lymphoid cells expressing Thy1, stem cell antigen 1 (SCA-1), retinoic-acid-related orphan receptor (ROR)-γt and IL-23R, and these cells markedly accumulated in the inflamed colon. IL-23-responsive innate intestinal cells are also a feature of T-cell-dependent models of colitis. The transcription factor ROR-γt, which controls IL-23R expression, has a functional role, because Rag-/-Rorc-/- mice failed to develop innate colitis. Last, depletion of Thy1+ innate lymphoid cells completely abrogated acute and chronic innate colitis. These results identify a previously unrecognized IL-23-responsive innate lymphoid population that mediates intestinal immune pathology and may therefore represent a target in inflammatory bowel disease.

Interleukin-23 drives innate and T cell–mediated intestinal inflammation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract involving aberrant activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. We have used two complementary models of IBD to examine the roles of interleukin (IL)-12 family cytokines in bacterially induced intestinal inflammation. Our results clearly show that IL-23, but not IL-12, is essential for the induction of chronic intestinal inflammation mediated by innate or adaptive immune mechanisms. Depletion of IL-23 was associated with decreased proinflammatory responses in the intestine but had little impact on systemic T cell inflammatory responses. These results newly identify IL-23 as a driver of innate immune pathology in the intestine and suggest that selective targeting of IL-23 represents an attractive therapeutic approach in human IBD.

Interleukin-23 Drives Intestinal Inflammation through Direct Activity on T Cells

Summary Mutations in the IL23R gene are linked to inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility. Experimental models have shown that interleukin-23 (IL-23) orchestrates innate and T cell-dependent colitis; however, the cell populations it acts on to induce intestinal immune pathology are unknown. Here, using Il23r−/− T cells, we demonstrated that T cell reactivity to IL-23 was critical for development of intestinal pathology, but not for systemic inflammation. Through direct signaling into T cells, IL-23 drove intestinal T cell proliferation, promoted intestinal Th17 cell accumulation, and enhanced the emergence of an IL-17A+IFN-γ+ population of T cells. Furthermore, IL-23R signaling in intestinal T cells suppressed the differentiation of Foxp3+ cells and T cell IL-10 production. Although Il23r−/− T cells displayed unimpaired Th1 cell differentiation, these cells showed impaired proliferation and failed to accumulate in the intestine. Together, these results highlight the multiple functions of IL-23 signaling in T cells that contribute to its colitogenic activity.

Interleukin-23 Restrains Regulatory T Cell Activity to Drive T Cell-Dependent Colitis

Summary Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is an inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It orchestrates innate and T cell-mediated inflammatory pathways and can promote T helper 17 (Th17) cell responses. Utilizing a T cell transfer model, we showed that IL-23-dependent colitis did not require IL-17 secretion by T cells. Furthermore, IL-23-independent intestinal inflammation could develop if immunosuppressive pathways were reduced. The frequency of naive T cell-derived Foxp3+ cells in the colon increased in the absence of IL-23, indicating a role for IL-23 in controlling regulatory T cell induction. Foxp3-deficient T cells induced colitis when transferred into recipients lacking IL-23p19, showing that IL-23 was not essential for intestinal inflammation in the absence of Foxp3. Taken together, our data indicate that overriding immunosuppressive pathways is an important function of IL-23 in the intestine and could influence not only Th17 cell activity but also other types of immune responses.

Critical influence of natural regulatory CD25+ T cells on the fate of allografts in the absence of immunosuppression.

Background. Allografts are occasionally accepted in the absence of immunosuppression. Because naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (natural CD25+ Treg cells) have been shown to inhibit allograft rejection, we investigated their influence on the outcome of allografts in nonimmunosuppressed mouse recipients. Methods. We compared survival times of male CBA/Ca skin grafts in female CBA/Ca recipients expressing a transgenic anti-HY T-cell receptor on a RAG-1+/+ (A1[M]RAG+) or a RAG-1−/− (A1[M]RAG−) background. Depletion of natural CD25+ Treg cells in A1[M]RAG+ mice was achieved by in vivo administration of the PC61 monoclonal antibody. The influence of natural CD25+ Treg cells on the fate of major histocompatibility complex class II-mismatched (C57BL/6× bm12)F1 skin or bm12 heart transplants in C57BL/6 recipients was also assessed. Finally, we investigated the impact of natural CD25+ Treg cells on the production of T-helper (Th)1 and Th2 cytokines in mixed lymphocyte cultures between C57BL/6 CD4+ CD25− T cells as responders and bm12 or (C57BL/6× bm12)F1 antigen-presenting cells as stimulators. Results. Male allografts were spontaneously accepted by female A1(M)RAG+ mice but readily rejected by female A1(M)RAG+ mice depleted of natural CD25+ Treg cells by pretreatment with the PC61 monoclonal antibody. Depletion of CD25+ Treg cells also enhanced eosinophil-determined rejection of (C57BL/6× bm12)F1 skin grafts or bm12 cardiac grafts in C57BL/6 recipients. Finally, natural CD25+ Treg cells inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-γ, IL-5, and IL-13 in mixed lymphocyte culture in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion. Natural CD25+ Treg cells control Th1- and Th2-type allohelper T-cell responses and thereby influence the fate of allografts in nonimmunosuppressed recipients.

Oncostatin M drives intestinal inflammation and predicts response to tumor necrosis factor–neutralizing therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohns disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are complex chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that are driven by perturbed cytokine pathways. Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) antibodies are mainstay therapies for IBD. However, up to 40% of patients are nonresponsive to anti-TNF agents, which makes the identification of alternative therapeutic targets a priority. Here we show that, relative to healthy controls, inflamed intestinal tissues from patients with IBD express high amounts of the cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) and its receptor (OSMR), which correlate closely with histopathological disease severity. The OSMR is expressed in nonhematopoietic, nonepithelial intestinal stromal cells, which respond to OSM by producing various proinflammatory molecules, including interleukin (IL)-6, the leukocyte adhesion factor ICAM1, and chemokines that attract neutrophils, monocytes, and T cells. In an animal model of anti-TNF-resistant intestinal inflammation, genetic deletion or pharmacological blockade of OSM significantly attenuates colitis. Furthermore, according to an analysis of more than 200 patients with IBD, including two cohorts from phase 3 clinical trials of infliximab and golimumab, high pretreatment expression of OSM is strongly associated with failure of anti-TNF therapy. OSM is thus a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for IBD, and has particular relevance for anti-TNF-resistant patients.

Bone marrow-derived immature dendritic cells prime in vivo alloreactive T cells for interleukin-4-dependent rejection of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen-disparate cardiac allograft

BACKGROUND Dendritic cells (DC) at the immature state express low levels of major histocompatibility complex and costimulatory molecules and are poor stimulators of primary T-cell response in vitro. Injection of immature bone marrow-derived DC, however, was shown to prime in vivo alloreactive CD4 T lymphocytes toward type 2 cytokine-producing cells in the absence of CD8 T-cell activation. METHODS We undertook the present study to determine whether Th2-immunization by immature DC could lead to allograft rejection. We first analyzed, in the major histocompatibility complex class II antigen-disparate B6-anti-bm12 combination, the capacity of immature DC to regulate the activity of alloreactive CD4 T cells. We then determined, in this model of weak antigenicity, whether injection of bm12 DC in B6 recipients before transplantation could modify the survival of vascularized bm12 cardiac allografts. RESULTS We confirmed that in vitro immature DC are poor stimulators of T-cell alloresponse. However, when given in vivo, immature bm12 DC primed anti-bm12 T cells for the production of interleukin (IL)-4. Moreover, they induced the acute rejection of bm12 cardiac allograft. The process of rejection was dependent on IL-4 because immunization of IL-4-deficient mice did not trigger rejection. CONCLUSIONS Allogeneic immature DC generated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor are potent stimulators of primary alloreactive response in vivo and prime for transplant rejection. Our results indicate that strategies based on immature DC for the induction of transplantation tolerance should be considered with caution.

Dendritic cells transduced with viral interleukin 10 or Fas ligand: no evidence for induction of allotolerance in vivo.

Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent presenters of alloantigens and therefore are responsible for the induction of allograft rejection. Genetic modifications of DC allowing the expression of a tolerogenic molecule may render them immunosuppressive. We transduced bone marrow-derived DC with recombinant MFG retrovirus encoding either viral interleukin (vIL)-10 or Fas ligand (FasL) to induce transplantation tolerance. Up to 10 ng/ml of bioactive vIL-10 was produced by DC after transfer of the corresponding gene. Although the inhibitory properties of vIL-10-transduced DC were revealed in vitro in a mixed lymphocyte culture, no clear down-regulation of the allogeneic response was observed in vivo after single or multiple injections of those DC overexpressing vIL-10. When we transduced wild-type bone marrow-derived DC with recombinant MFG retrovirus encoding murine FasL, cells quickly died, probably because of suicidal or fratricidal Fas-dependent death. Indeed, only DC from Fas-deficient lpr mice survived to FasL gene transfer. Those FasL-transduced lpr DC exhibited a strong cytotoxic activity against Fas-positive targets in vitro. DC overexpressing FasL did not behave as immunosuppressive DC in vivo. The subcutaneous injection of FasL+ lpr DC in MHC class II-disparate mice hyperactivated the allospecific proliferation of T cells in the draining lymph nodes compared with mice treated with control-transduced DC. These results argue against the development of FasL+ DC or vIL-10-secreting DC as immunosuppressive tools in vivo. The alternative pathways of T-cell activation triggered by these genetically modified DC need to be investigated.

An Alternative Pathway of NF-κB Activation Results in Maturation and T Cell Priming Activity of Dendritic Cells Overexpressing a Mutated IκBα

Maturation of dendritic cells (DC) is a critical step in the induction of T cell responses and depends on the activation of NF-κB transcription factors. Therefore, inhibition of NF-κB activation has been proposed as a strategy to maintain DC in an immature stage and to promote immune tolerance. Herein, we generated murine myeloid DC expressing a mutated IκBα acting as a superrepressor of the classical NF-κB pathway (s-rIκB DC) to investigate the consequences of NF-κB inhibition on the ability of DC to prime T cell responses. Upon in vitro LPS activation, maturation of s-rIκB DC was profoundly impaired as indicated by defective up-regulation of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules and reduced secretion of IL-12 p70 and TNF-α. In contrast, after injection, s-rIκB DC had the same capacity as control DC to migrate to draining lymph node and to induce Th1- and Th2-type cytokine production in a MHC class II-incompatible host mice. Likewise, s-rIκB DC pulsed with OVA were as efficient as control DC to induce Ag-specific T cell responses in vivo. Indeed, further in vitro experiments established that s-rIκB DC undergo efficient maturation upon prolonged contact with activated T cells via the alternative pathway of NF-κB activation triggered at least partly by lymphotoxin β receptor ligation and involving processing of p100/RelB complexes.

The replacement of graft endothelium by recipient-type cells conditions allograft rejection mediated by indirect pathway CD4(+) T cells.

Background. Whereas the participation of alloreactive T cells sensitized by indirect allorecognition in graft rejection is well documented, the nature of recipient antigen presenting cells recognized by indirect pathway CD4+ T cells within the graft has yet to be identified. The purpose of this study was to determine the role played by graft endothelium replacement in the immune recognition of cardiac allografts rejected by indirect pathway CD4+ T cells. Methods. Transgenic RAG2−/− mice expressing I-Ab-restricted male antigen H-Y-specific TcR were studied for their capacity to reject H-2k male cardiac allografts. Chronic vascular rejection in this model was due to the indirect recognition of H-Y antigen shed from H-2k male allograft and presented by the recipients own I-Ab APC to transgenic T cells. Results. Immunohistochemical analysis of rejected grafts revealed the presence of numerous microvascular endothelial cells (EC) that expressed recipients I-Ab MHC class II molecules. This observation suggested that graft endothelium replacement by I-Ab-positive cells of recipient origin could stimulate the rejection of male H-2k graft by I-Ab-restricted H-Y-specific T cells. To investigate further this possibility, hearts from H-2b-into-H-2k irradiation bone marrow (BM) chimera were transplanted in transgenic recipients. A direct correlation was observed between the presence of I-Ab-positive EC within myocardial microvessels and the induction of acute rejection of chimeric H-2k male cardiac allografts transplanted in transgenic recipients. Conclusions. We conclude that graft endothelium replacement by recipient-type cells is required for the rejection of cardiac allograft mediated by indirect pathway alloreactive CD4+ T cells.