Targeted deletion of NFAT-Interacting-Protein-(NIP) 45 resolves experimental asthma by inhibiting Innate Lymphoid Cells group 2 (ILC2)

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 30;9(1):15695. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51690-z.

Abstract

Here we investigated the role of NFAT-interacting protein (NIP)-45, an Interleukin (IL)-4 inducing Transcription Factor, and its impact on the differentiation of Group 2 Innate -Lymphoid -Cells (ILC2s) in the pathogenesis of asthma. NIP45, a transcription factor regulating NFATc1 activity, mRNA was found to be induced in the Peripheral Blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) of asthmatic pre-school children with allergies and in the peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from adult asthmatic patients. In PBMCs of asthmatic and control children, NIP45 mRNA directly correlated with NFATc1 but not with T-bet. Targeted deletion of NIP45 in mice resulted in a protective phenotype in experimental asthma with reduced airway mucus production, airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophils. This phenotype was reversed by intranasal delivery of recombinant r-IL-33. Consistently, ILC2s and not GATA3+ CD4+ T-cells were decreased in the lungs of asthmatic NIP45-/- mice. Reduced cell number spleen ILC2s could be differentiated from NIP45-/- as compared to wild-type mice after in vivo injection of a microcircle-DNA vector expressing IL-25 and decreased cytokines and ILC2 markers in ILC2 differentiated from the bone marrow of NIP45-/- mice. NIP45 thus emerges as a new therapeutic target for the resolution of the airway pathology, down-regulation of ILC2s and mucus production in asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / genetics*
  • Asthma / metabolism
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics*
  • Interleukin-33 / genetics
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucus / immunology
  • Mucus / metabolism
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Interleukin-33
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • NFATC1 protein, human
  • NFATC2IP protein, human
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21