IL-2-controlled expression of multiple T cell trafficking genes and Th2 cytokines in the regulatory T cell-deficient scurfy mice: implication to multiorgan inflammation and control of skin and lung inflammation

J Immunol. 2011 Jan 15;186(2):1268-78. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002677. Epub 2010 Dec 17.

Abstract

Scurfy (Sf) mice bear a mutation in the Foxp3 transcription factor, lack regulatory T cells (Treg), develop multiorgan inflammation, and die prematurely. The major target organs affected are skin, lungs, and liver. “Sf mice lacking the Il2 gene (Sf.Il2–/–), despite being devoid of Treg, did not develop skin and lung inflammation, but the inflammation in liver remained [corrected]. Genome-wide microarray analysis revealed hundreds of genes that were differentially regulated among Sf, Sf.Il2(-/-), and B6 CD4(+) T cells, but the most significant changes were those encoding receptors for trafficking/chemotaxis/retention and cytokines. Our study suggests that IL-2 controls the skin and lung inflammation in Sf mice in an apparent "organ-specific" manner through two novel mechanisms: by regulating the expression of genes encoding a variety of receptors for T cell trafficking/chemotaxis/retention and by regulating Th2 cell expansion and cytokine production. Thus, IL-2 is potentially a master regulator for multiorgan inflammation and an underlying etiological factor for various diseases associated with skin and lung inflammation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Movement / immunology*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-2 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics
  • Interleukin-2 / physiology*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Lymphopenia / genetics
  • Lymphopenia / immunology
  • Lymphopenia / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Multiple Organ Failure / genetics
  • Multiple Organ Failure / immunology
  • Multiple Organ Failure / pathology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-2

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE23398