Chronic morphine treatment promotes specific Th2 cytokine production by murine T cells in vitro via a Fas/Fas ligand-dependent mechanism

Improper homeostasis of Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation can promote pathological immune responses such as autoimmunity and asthma. A number of factors govern the development of these cells including TCR ligation, costimulation, death effector expression, and activation-induced cell death (AICD). Although chronic morphine administration has been shown to selectively promote Th2 development in unpurified T cell populations, the direct effects of chronic morphine on Th cell skewing and cytokine production by CD4(+) T cells have not been elucidated. We previously showed that morphine enhances Fas death receptor expression in a T cell hybridoma and human PBL. In addition, we have demonstrated a role for Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), and TRAIL in promoting Th2 development via killing of Th1 cells. Therefore, we analyzed whether the ability of morphine to affect Th2 cytokine production was mediated by regulation of Fas, FasL, and TRAIL expression and AICD directly in purified Th cells. We found that morphine significantly promoted IL-4 and IL-13 production but did not alter IL-5 or IFN-gamma. Furthermore, morphine enhanced the mRNA expression of Fas, FasL and TRAIL and promoted Fas-mediated AICD of CD4(+) T cells. Additionally, blockade of Fas/FasL interaction by anti-FasL inhibited the morphine-induced production of IL-4 and IL-13 and AICD of CD4(+) T cells. These results suggest that morphine preferentially enhances Th2 cell differentiation via killing of Th1 cells in a Fas/FasL-dependent manner.     

Morphine withdrawal inhibits IL-12 induction in a macrophage cell line through a mechanism that involves cAMP

There are very few studies that examine the effects that morphine withdrawal has on immune functioning, and of these even fewer describe the mechanisms by which withdrawal brings about these changes. Our previous work demonstrated that morphine withdrawal contributed to Th cell differentiation by biasing cells toward the Th2 lineage. A major finding from these studies was that IL-12 was decreased following withdrawal, and it was concluded that this decrease may be a mechanism by which morphine withdrawal is mediating Th2 polarization. Therefore, it was the aim of the current studies to develop an in vitro model to examine the process of morphine withdrawal and to understand the signaling mechanisms that withdrawal may use to effect IL-12 production through the use of this model. It was demonstrated and concluded that morphine withdrawal may be effecting IL-12 production by increasing cAMP levels, which activates protein kinase A. Protein kinase A activation then prevents the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IkappaB, which in turn prevents translocation of the NF-kappaB p65 subunit to the nucleus to transactivate the IL-12 p40 gene, ultimately resulting in decreased IL-12 production following LPS stimulation.     

Dendritic cell-derived IL-12 promotes B cell induction of Th2 differentiation: a feedback regulation of Th1 development.

B cells convert what are normally conditions for Th1 differentiation into an environment suitable for Th2 development. This capacity is dependent on CD40 as B cells from CD40-/- mice do not elicit Th2 differentiation. To elucidate the basis of this effect, we surveyed cytokine RNA made by naive B cells after activation with anti-Ig and anti-CD40. Resting B cells make TGF-beta message only, however, 4 days after activation, RNA encoding IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha was found. The expression of these messages was accelerated by 2 days in the presence of IL-12. The relevance of these observations to T cell differentiation was investigated: addition of OVA peptide to splenic cells from DO.11.10 transgenic mice causes most T cells to make IFN-gamma. Coactivation of B cells in these cultures reduces the number of IFN-gamma-producing T cells and increases the number synthesizing IL-4. Abs to IL-6 and IL-10 block the IL-4 enhancement. Dissection of the component APC demonstrated that interaction of B cells with IL-12-producing dendritic cells is crucial for B cell-mediated IL-4 enhancement: Thus, B cells preactivated in the presence of dendritic cells from IL-12-/- mice show little IL-4-inducing activity when used to activate T cells. This immune regulation is initiated by IL-12 and therefore represents a feedback loop to temper its own dominant effect (IFN-gamma induction).     

Impaired GATA3-dependent chromatin remodeling and Th2 cell differentiation leading to attenuated allergic airway inflammation in aging mice

Age-related changes in lymphocytes are most prominent in the T cell compartment. There have been substantial numbers of reports on T cell function in aged mice and humans, such as on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, but the results show considerable variation and contradictions. In the present study, we used 8- to 12-mo-old aging mice and a well-established in vitro Th1/Th2 cell differentiation culture system to identify molecular defects in Th1/Th2 cell differentiation that can be detected in the relatively early stages of aging. The capability to differentiate into Th2 cells is reduced in aging mouse CD4(+) T cells. Decreased activation of the ERK MAPK cascade upon TCR stimulation, but normal intracellular-free calcium ion concentration mobilization and normal IL-4-induced STAT6 activation were observed in aging mouse CD4(+) T cells. In addition, reduced expression of GATA3 was detected in developing Th2 cells. Chromatin remodeling of the Th2 cytokine gene locus was found to be impaired. Th2-dependent allergic airway inflammation was milder in aging mice compared with in young adult mice. These results suggest that the levels of Th2 cell differentiation and resulting Th2-dependent immune responses, including allergic airway inflammation, decline during aging through defects in the activation of the ERK MAPK cascade, expression of GATA3 protein and GATA3-dependent chromatin remodeling of the Th2 cytokine gene locus. In the present study, we provide the first evidence indicating that a chromatin-remodeling event in T cells is impaired by aging.     

Interleukin 12 and CD86 Regulate Th1 and Th2 Development Induced by a Range of Antigen Doses Presented by Peyer's Patch and Spleen Cells

In this study, we demonstrate the role of interleukin 12 (IL-12), CD80 and CD86 in T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 differentiation induced through antigen presentation by Peyer's patch (PP) and spleen (SPL) cells with various doses of antigen. IL-12 was found to be critical for the induction of Th1-type cytokine producing cells, while antigen-dose dependent patterns of differentiation into Th2-type cytokine producing cells were not altered by the blockade of IL-12. Further, the difference in the pattern of Th2-type cytokine producing cell differentiation induced by PP and SPL cells depending on the antigen dosage were preserved in the absence of IL-12. When the function of CD86 was blocked by specific antibody, the induction of Th1-type cytokine producing cells was kept at high levels through every antigen dose, and the difference between PP and SPL cells was abrogated. With regard to Th2 induction, CD86 enhanced the differentiation of Th2-type cytokine producing cells but it was not essential in the case of antigen presentation by SPL cells. These results suggest that antigen-dose dependent changes in Th2 cell induction are regulated by additional factors which cannot induce antigen-dose dependent changes in Th1 cell differentiation by themselves.     

IL-6 production by pulmonary dendritic cells impedes Th1 immune responses

Mucosal tissues, such as the lung, are continually exposed to both foreign and environmental Ags. To counter the potential inflammatory tissue injury of chronic Th1-mediated responses against these Ags, mucosal sites may skew toward Th2 immune responses. However, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Dendritic cells (DC), as orchestrators of the immune response, skew Th1/Th2 differentiation by cytokine secretion and expression of specific cell surface markers. We compared DC from mucosal and systemic locations. In this study, we show that the lung lacks a CD8alpha(+) DC subpopulation and contains DC that appear less mature than splenic DC. Furthermore, we demonstrate that pulmonary DC produce significant levels of IL-6 and fail to produce the Th1-polarizing cytokine IL-12. Importantly, we demonstrate that IL-6 negatively regulates IL-12 production, as pulmonary DC from IL-6(-/-) mice produce significant levels of IL-12 and induce Th1 polarization of naive CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IL-6 is sufficient to explain the differential polarizing abilities of pulmonary and splenic DC, as splenic DC cocultures supplemented with IL-6 polarize naive T cells toward Th2, and pulmonary DC cultures in which IL-6 was removed with neutralizing Ab resulted in more Th1 polarization, pointing to IL-6 as the mechanism of Th2 polarization in the lung. We propose that the Th2 response seen in the lung is due to DC-mediated inhibition of Th1 responses via IL-6 production, rather than enhanced Th2 responses, and that this regulation decreases the likelihood of chronic inflammatory pathology in the lung.     

Th17 Down-regulation Is Involved in Reduced Progression of Schistosomiasis Fibrosis in ICOSL KO Mice

Background

Granulomatous and fibrosing inflammation in response to parasite eggs is the main pathology that occurs during infection with Schistosoma spp. CD4+ T cells play critical roles in both host immune responses against parasitic infection and immunopathology in schistosomiasis,and coordinate many types of immune cells that contribute to fibrosis. ICOSL plays an important role in controlling specific aspects of T cell activation, differentiation, and function. Previous work has suggested that ICOS is essential for Th17 cell development. However, the immunopathogenesis of this pathway in schistosomiasis fibrosisis still unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using models of schistosomiasis in ICOSL KO and the C57BL/6 WT mice, we studied the role of the ICOSL/ICOS interaction in the mediation of the Th17 response in host granulomatous inflammation, particularly in liver fibrosis during S. japonicum infection, and investigated the immune responses and pathology of ICOSL KO mice in these models. The results showed that ICOSL KO mice exhibited improved survival, reduced liver granulomatous inflammation around parasite eggs, markedly inhibited hepatic fibrosis development, lower levels of Th17-related cytokines (IL-17/IL-21), Th2-related cytokines (IL-4/IL-6/IL-10), a pro-fibrotic cytokine (IL-13), and TGF-β1, but higher level of Th1-related cytokine (IFN-γ) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The reduced progression of fibrogenesis was correlated with the down-regulation of Th17 and Th2 and the elimination of ICOSL/ICOS interactions.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings suggest that IL-17-producing cells contribute to the hepatic granulomatous inflammation and subsequent fibrosis. Importantly, there was a clearly positive correlation between the presence of IL-17-producing cells and ICOS expression in ICOSL KO mice, and additional results indicated that Th17 was involved in the pathological tissue remodeling in liver fibrosis induced by schistosomiasis.     

Haptoglobin and the Th1/Th2 balance: hints from in vitro and in vivo studies

A variety of immunomodulatory effects have previously been attributed to haptoglobin (Hp). These are supposed to be partly mediated through binding of Hp to CD11b. In the present study, we assessed its effects on T-helper (Th) cytokine production following both in vitro and in vivo stimulation of T-cells. Hp exhibits a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on human T lymphocyte release of the Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13) in vitro, whereas it has no clear effect on Th1 cytokine (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) release. When administered an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, Hp knockout mice produced more IL-4 and less IFN-gamma than did their wild-type litter-mates. Our findings imply that Hp may be regarded as a regulator of the Th1/Th2 balance in both human and murine immune systems.     

Role of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in BCG-induced IFN-gamma production: cytokine promotion and simulation of BCG effect

Induction of a T-helper-type 1 (Th1) immune response is indispensable for successful treatment of superficial bladder cancer with BCG. In this study possible involvement of various cytokines in BCG action as well as their potential roles in enhancing and mimicking BCG effect were explored. In immunocompetent cell cultures, IFN-gamma, a major Th1 cytokine, appears to be a late responsive cytokine to BCG stimulation. Its induction requires involvement of various endogenously produced Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Functional abolishment of any one of these cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, GMCSF, TNF-alpha, or IFN-alpha, except IL-10) by neutralizing antibodies leads to reduced IFN-gamma production (19-82% inhibition in mouse and 44-77% inhibition in human systems, respectively). In mice cytokines IL-2, IL-12, IL-18, and GMCSF are observed to synergize with BCG for IFN-gamma production, whereas in human cytokines IL-2, IL-12, TNF-alpha, and IFN-alpha exhibit similar synergistic effects. Rational combinations of these Th1-stimulating cytokines (IL-12 plus IL-18 in mice and IL-2 plus IL-12 in humans, respectively) dramatically up-regulate IFN-gamma production that is incomparably superior to BCG for induction of this cytokine. These results suggest that combined Th1-stimulating cytokines and combinations of BCG plus selected Th1-stimulating cytokines are rational candidates for further study in the treatment of bladder cancer patients.     

The E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor Ndfip1 regulates Th17 differentiation by limiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines

Ndfip1 is an adaptor for the E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch. Both Ndfip1- and Itch-deficient T cells are biased toward Th2 cytokine production. In this study, we demonstrate that lungs from Ndfip1(-/-) mice showed increased numbers of neutrophils and Th17 cells. This was not because Ndfip1(-/-) T cells are biased toward Th17 differentiation. In fact, fewer Ndfip1(-/-) T cells differentiated into Th17 cells in vitro due to high IL-4 production. Rather, Th17 differentiation was increased in Ndfip1(-/-) mice due to increased numbers of IL-6-producing eosinophils. IL-6 levels in mice that lacked both Ndfip1 and IL-4 were similar to wild-type controls, and these mice had fewer Th17 cells in their lungs. These results indicate that Th2 inflammation, such as that observed in Ndfip1(-/-) mice, can increase Th17 differentiation by recruiting IL-6-producing eosinophils into secondary lymphoid organs and tissues. This may explain why Th17 cells develop within an ongoing Th2 inflammatory response.     

Keratinocytes Determine Th1 Immunity during Early Experimental Leishmaniasis

Experimental leishmaniasis is an excellent model system for analyzing Th1/Th2 differentiation. Resistance to Leishmania (L.) major depends on the development of a L. major specific Th1 response, while Th2 differentiation results in susceptibility. There is growing evidence that the microenvironment of the early affected tissue delivers the initial triggers for Th-cell differentiation. To analyze this we studied differential gene expression in infected skin of resistant and susceptible mice 16h after parasite inoculation. Employing microarray technology, bioinformatics, laser-microdissection and in-situ-hybridization we found that the epidermis was the major source of immunomodulatory mediators. This epidermal gene induction was significantly stronger in resistant mice especially for several genes known to promote Th1 differentiation (IL-12, IL-1β, osteopontin, IL-4) and for IL-6. Expression of these cytokines was temporally restricted to the crucial time of Th1/2 differentiation. Moreover, we revealed a stronger epidermal up-regulation of IL-6 in the epidermis of resistant mice. Accordingly, early local neutralization of IL-4 in resistant mice resulted in a Th2 switch and mice with a selective IL-6 deficiency in non-hematopoietic cells showed a Th2 switch and dramatic deterioration of disease. Thus, our data indicate for the first time that epidermal cytokine expression is a decisive factor in the generation of protective Th1 immunity and contributes to the outcome of infection with this important human pathogen.     

Inducible costimulator regulates Th2-mediated inflammation, but not Th2 differentiation, in a model of allergic airway disease

A novel costimulatory molecule expressed on activated T cells, inducible costimulator (ICOS), and its ligand, B7-related protein-1 (B7RP-1), were recently identified. ICOS costimulation leads to the induction of Th2 cytokines without augmentation of IL-2 production, suggesting a role for ICOS in Th2 cell differentiation and expansion. In the present study, a soluble form of murine ICOS, ICOS-Ig, was used to block ICOS/B7RP-1 interactions in a Th2 model of allergic airway disease. In this model, mice are sensitized with inactivated Schistosoma mansoni eggs and are subsequently challenged with soluble S. mansoni egg Ag directly in the airways. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with ICOS-Ig during sensitization and challenge attenuated airway inflammation, as demonstrated by a decrease in cellular infiltration into the lung tissue and airways, as well as by a decrease in local IL-5 production. These inhibitory effects were not due to a lack of T cell priming nor to a defect in Th2 differentiation. In addition, blockade of ICOS/B7RP-1 interactions during ex vivo restimulation of lung Th2 effector cells prevented cytokine production. Thus, blockade of ICOS signaling can significantly reduce airway inflammation without affecting Th2 differentiation in this model of allergic airway disease.     

IL-33 induces Th17-mediated airway inflammation via mast cells in ovalbumin-challenged mice

Allergic asthma is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils, elevated Th2 cytokine levels, airway hyperresponsiveness, and IgE. In addition to eosinophils, mast cells, and basophils, a variety of cytokines are also involved in the development of allergic asthma. The pivotal role of eosinophils in the progression of the disease has been a subject of controversy. To determine the role of eosinophils in the progression of airway inflammation, we sensitized and challenged BALB/c wild-type (WT) mice and eosinophil-deficient ΔdblGATA mice with ovalbumin (OVA) and analyzed different aspects of inflammation. We observed increased eosinophil levels and a Th2-dominant response in OVA-challenged WT mice. In contrast, eosinophil-deficient ΔdblGATA mice displayed an increased proportion of mast cells and a Th17-biased response following OVA inhalation. Notably, the levels of IL-33, an important cytokine responsible for Th2 immune deviation, were not different between WT and eosinophil-deficient mice. We also demonstrated that mast cells induced Th17-differentiation via IL-33/ST2 stimulation in vitro. These results indicate that eosinophils are not essential for the development of allergic asthma and that mast cells can skew the immune reaction predominantly toward Th17 responses via IL-33 stimulation.     

Th1-Mediated Immunity against Helicobacter pylori Can Compensate for Lack of Th17 Cells and Can Protect Mice in the Absence of Immunization

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can be significantly reduced by immunization in mice. Th17 cells play an essential role in the protective immune response. Th1 immunity has also been demonstrated to play a role in the protective immune response and can compensate in the absence of IL-17. To further address the potential of Th1 immunity, we investigated the efficacy of immunization in mice deficient in IL-23p19, a cytokine that promotes Th17 cell development. We also examined the course of Helicobacter infection in unimmunized mice treated with Th1 promoting cytokine IL-12. C57BL/6, IL-12 p35 KO, and IL-23 p19 KO mice were immunized and challenged with H. pylori. Protective immunity was evaluated by CFU determination and QPCR on gastric biopsies. Gastric and splenic IL-17 and IFNγ levels were determined by PCR or by ELISA. Balb/c mice were infected with H. felis and treated with IL-12 therapy and the resulting gastric bacterial load and inflammatory response were assessed by histologic evaluation. Vaccine induced reductions in bacterial load that were comparable to wild type mice were observed in both IL-12 p35 and IL-23 p19 KO mice. In the absence of IL-23 p19, IL-17 levels remained low but IFNγ levels increased significantly in both immunized challenged and unimmunized/challenged mice. Additionally, treatment of H. felis-infected Balb/c mice with IL-12 resulted in increased gastric inflammation and the eradication of bacteria in most mice. These data suggest that Th1 immunity can compensate for the lack of IL-23 mediated Th17 responses, and that protective Th1 immunity can be induced in the absence of immunization through cytokine therapy of the infected host.     

IL-9 is a susceptibility factor in Leishmania major infection by promoting detrimental Th2/type 2 responses

IL-9 is a cytokine produced by Th2 cells, induced during Leishmania major infection. Because the role of IL-9 in leishmaniasis is currently unknown, IL-9-deficient mice were generated by immunization with mouse IL-9 coupled to OVA. This produced strong and long-lasting neutralizing anti-IL-9 Abs in vivo. Anti-IL-9 vaccination showed protective effects, because it enabled L. major-infected nonhealer BALB/c mice to better resist to leishmaniasis with doubling the time span until pathological disease progression occurred. Increased resistance was also demonstrated by moderate footpad swelling and histopathology due to reduced parasite burden compared with sham-immunized BALB/c mice. Mechanistically, IL-9 neutralization in BALB/c mice resulted in a reduction of detrimental Th2/type 2 responses with an observed shift toward protective Th1 immune responses. This led to an alteration from alternative to classical macrophage activation with subsequent enhanced killing effector functions, as demonstrated by increased NO production but reduced arginase 1-mediated macrophage responses. Conclusively, the data show that IL-9 is a susceptible factor in leishmaniasis. They further suggest that IL-9 is able to influence Th dichotomy in leishmaniasis by promoting detrimental Th2/type 2 responses in BALB/c mice. The results extend efforts made to generate autoantibodies capable of regulating biological processes, with IL-9 a potential drug target against leishmaniasis.     

A murine interleukin-4-Ig fusion protein regulates the expression of Th1- and Th2-specific cytokines in the pancreas of NOD mice.

Interleukin (IL)-4 is a key cytokine in T-helper type 2 (Th2) immune response. We have constructed a dimeric IL-4 molecule consisting of the murine IL-4 and the murine Fc part of IgG2a. We first tested the biological activity of the chimeric protein by in vitro studies using isolated murine spleen cells. IL-4-Ig was found to downregulate LPS-induced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production. The immunomodulatory potential of the fusion protein was also analyzed in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an animal model for human type 1 diabetes. Female NOD mice aged 10 weeks were treated once with cyclophosphamide to accelerate and synchronize the progression of insulitis. Treatment with IL-4-Ig induced strong modulation of the pancreatic cytokine balance. Expression was downregulated for both Th1-specific cytokine IFN-gamma and the Th2-specific cytokine IL-10. IL-12p40 expression was only slightly affected. Interestingly, infiltration increased in the islets of IL-4-Ig-treated animals, and therefore did not correlate with the decreased IFN-gamma expression. Hence, IL-4-Ig did not prevent the progression from peri- to intra-insulitis, but suppressed inflammatory cytokine production. In most experiments, the biological activity of IL-4-Ig and IL-4 was comparable. We conclude that treatment with the chimeric protein IL-4-Ig effectively downregulates Th1 responses but simultaneously augments intra-islet infiltration.     

Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 differentially alters the development of Th1 and Th2 type responses in vivo

The expression of chemokines during an immune response may participate in determining the intensity and type of the developing immune response. In the present study, we have examined the effect of overexpressing monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 at the site of immunization during different stages of Th1- and Th2-type granulomatous responses. The overexpression of MCP-1 by MCP-1 adenovirus during the sensitization phase of the purified protein derivative Th1-type model significantly reduced the elicitation of the granulomatous response. In contrast, the overexpression of MCP-1 during the sensitization phase of the schistosome egg Ag Th2 response led to an enhanced granulomatous reaction. When cytokines were examined upon restimulation of splenocytes ex vivo, an altered cytokine profile was observed, as compared with control mice. IFN-gamma and IL-12 were significantly reduced in the purified protein derivative Th1-type response, whereas IL-10 and IL-13 were up-regulated in the schistosome egg Ag Th2-type response. The regulation of the immune response was further examined by using the MCP-1 adenovirus at later time points during the elicitation phase. When MCP-1 was overexpressed during the elicitation phase of the responses, neither the Th1-type nor the Th2-type granuloma was altered. Likewise, the cytokine profiles after restimulation of splenocytes ex vivo were unchanged. Thus, the function of MCP-1 may depend on the stage and type of immune response.