The Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit protects from allergic airway disease development by inducing CD4+ regulatory T cells

Mucosal Immunol. 2013 May;6(3):535-46. doi: 10.1038/mi.2012.93. Epub 2012 Oct 3.

Abstract

The B subunit of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (EtxB) protects against the development of T helper type 1 (Th1)-mediated autoimmune pathologies in mice. Protection was transferable with splenic CD4(+) T cells and was less effective following CD25 depletion; implying a T regulatory cell (Treg)-mediated process. We hypothesized that if this were the case, then EtxB would also control a Th2-mediated disorder. We tested the effect of EtxB treatment on asthma development in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice. EtxB treatment diminished eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage samples, reduced OVA-specific immunoglobulin E and interleukin 4 production locally and systemically, and reduced airway hyper-reactivity. EtxB induced a dose-dependent increase in Foxp3(+)CD4(+) T cells, and adoptive transfer of splenic CD4(+) T cells partially suppressed lung pathology. Importantly, EtxB treatment increased OVA-specific CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in the lung and systemically. These data demonstrate that EtxB modulates the differentiation of allergen-specific T cells causing inducible Treg induction and preventing disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / prevention & control*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Bacterial Toxins / administration & dosage*
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Enterotoxins / administration & dosage*
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Enterotoxins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Interleukin-4
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Ovalbumin
  • heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli