Innate PI3K p110δ regulates Th1/Th17 development and microbiota-dependent colitis

J Immunol. 2014 Apr 15;192(8):3958-68. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301533. Epub 2014 Mar 14.

Abstract

The p110δ subunit of class IA PI3K modulates signaling in innate immune cells. We previously demonstrated that mice harboring a kinase-dead p110δ subunit (p110δ(KD)) develop spontaneous colitis. Macrophages contributed to the Th1/Th17 cytokine bias in p110δ(KD) mice through increased IL-12 and IL-23 expression. In this study, we show that the enteric microbiota is required for colitis development in germfree p110δ(KD) mice. Colonic tissue and macrophages from p110δ(KD) mice produce significantly less IL-10 compared with wild-type mice. p110δ(KD) APCs cocultured with naive CD4+ Ag-specific T cells also produce significantly less IL-10 and induce more IFN-γ- and IL-17A-producing CD4+ T cells compared with wild-type APCs. Illustrating the importance of APC-T cell interactions in colitis pathogenesis in vivo, Rag1(-/-)/p110δ(KD) mice develop mild colonic inflammation and produced more colonic IL-12p40 compared with Rag1(-/-) mice. However, CD4+ CD45RB(high/low) T cell Rag1(-/-)/p110δ(KD) recipient mice develop severe colitis with increased percentages of IFN-γ- and IL-17A-producing lamina propria CD3+D4+ T cells compared with Rag1(-/-) recipient mice. Intestinal tissue samples from patients with Crohn's disease reveal significantly lower expression of PIK3CD compared with intestinal samples from non-inflammatory bowel disease control subjects (p < 0.05). PIK3CD expression inversely correlates with the ratio of IL12B:IL10 expression. In conclusion, the PI3K subunit p110δ controls homeostatic APC-T cell interactions by altering the balance between IL-10 and IL-12/23. Defects in p110δ expression and/or function may underlie the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel disease and lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / metabolism
  • Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / genetics
  • Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism*
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology*
  • Colitis / metabolism*
  • Colitis / microbiology
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Immunity, Innate* / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microbiota
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-10
  • Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases