IL-4 abrogates T(H)17 cell-mediated inflammation by selective silencing of IL-23 in antigen-presenting cells

  • Emmanuella Guenova
  • , Yuliya Skabytska
  • , Wolfram Hoetzenecker
  • , Günther Weindl
  • , Karin Sauer
  • , Manuela Tham
  • , Kyu-Won Kim
  • , Ji-Hyeon Park
  • , Ji Hae Seo
  • , Desislava Ignatova
  • , Antonio Cozzio
  • , Mitchell P Levesque
  • , Thomas Volz
  • , Martin Köberle
  • , Susanne Kaesler
  • , Peter Thomas
  • , Reinhard Mailhammer
  • , Kamran Ghoreschi
  • , Knut Schäkel
  • , Boyko Amarov
  • Martin Eichner, Martin Schaller, Rachael A Clark, Martin Röcken, Tilo Biedermann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) can suppress delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions (DTHRs), including organ-specific autoimmune diseases in mice and humans. Despite the broadly documented antiinflammatory effect of IL-4, the underlying mode of action remains incompletely understood, as IL-4 also promotes IL-12 production by dendritic cells (DCs) and IFN-γ-producing T(H)1 cells in vivo. Studying the impact of IL-4 on the polarization of human and mouse DCs, we found that IL-4 exerts opposing effects on the production of either IL-12 or IL-23. While promoting IL-12-producing capacity of DCs, IL-4 completely abrogates IL-23. Bone marrow chimeras proved that IL-4-mediated suppression of DTHRs relies on the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6)-dependent abrogation of IL-23 in antigen-presenting cells. Moreover, IL-4 therapy attenuated DTHRs by STAT6- and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3)-dependent suppression of the IL-23/T(H)17 responses despite simultaneous enhancement of IL-12/TH1 responses. As IL-4 therapy also improves psoriasis in humans and suppresses IL-23/T(H)17 responses without blocking IL-12/T(H)1, selective IL-4-mediated IL-23/T(H)17 silencing is promising as treatment against harmful inflammation, while sparing the IL-12-dependent T(H)1 responses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2163-8
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume112
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2015
Externally publishedYes

Fields of science

  • 302 Clinical Medicine

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