Control of Schistosoma mansoni egg-induced inflammation by IL-4-responsive CD4(+)CD25(-)CD103(+)Foxp3(-) cells is IL-10-dependent

Eur J Immunol. 2010 Oct;40(10):2837-47. doi: 10.1002/eji.200940075.

Abstract

Host protection to helminth infection requires IL-4 receptor α chain (IL-4Rα) signalling and the establishment of finely regulated Th2 responses. In the current study, the role of IL-4Rα-responsive T cells in Schistosoma mansoni egg-induced inflammation was investigated. Egg-induced inflammation in IL-4Rα-responsive BALB/c mice was accompanied with Th2-biased responses, whereas T-cell-specific IL-4Rα-deficient BALB/c mice (iLck(cre)Il4ra(-) (/lox)) developed Th1-biased responses with heightened inflammation. The proportion of Foxp3(+) Treg in the draining LN of control mice did not correlate with the control of inflammation and was reduced in comparison to T-cell-specific IL-4Rα-deficient mice. This was due to IL-4-mediated inhibition of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Treg conversion, demonstrated in adoptively transferred Rag2(-) (/) (-) mice. Interestingly, reduced footpad swelling in Il4ra(-) (/lox) mice was associated with the induction of IL-4 and IL-10-secreting CD4(+)CD25(-)CD103(+)Foxp3(-) cells, confirmed in S. mansoni infection studies. Transfer of IL-4Rα-responsive CD4(+)CD25(-)CD103(+) cells, but not CD4(+)CD25(high) or CD4(+)CD25(-)CD103(-) cells, controlled inflammation in iLck(cre)Il4ra(-) (/lox) mice. The control of inflammation depended on IL-10, as transferred CD4(+)CD25(-)CD103(+) cells from IL-10-deficient mice were not able to effectively downregulate inflammation. Together, these results demonstrate that IL-4 signalling in T cells inhibits Foxp3(+) Treg in vivo and promotes CD4(+)CD25(-)CD103(+)Foxp3(-) cells that control S. mansoni egg-induced inflammation via IL-10.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Integrin alpha Chains / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology*
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Schistosoma mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / parasitology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Il2ra protein, mouse
  • Il4ra protein, mouse
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • alpha E integrins
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • RNA