1: Trends in immunology, 2010 Aug 4,
IL-17 and IL-22: siblings, not twins.
[Abstract]T helper (Th) cell subsets secrete cytokines that regulate other immune cells. Interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22 belong to a new class of cytokines with predominant effects on epithelial cells. Thus, these cytokines are key molecules in several disease processes. IL-17 and IL-22 are released by leukocytes such as Th and natural killer cell populations. Both IL-17 and IL-22 induce an innate immune response in epithelial cells, but their functional spectra are generally distinct. IL-17 induces an inflammatory tissue response and is involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, whereas IL-22 is protective/regenerative. This review juxtaposes IL-17 and IL-22 and describes overlaps and differences regarding their cellular sources, biochemical structure, signaling cascades in target cells, and function.
2: Journal of molecular cell biology, 2010 Aug, 2(4)
Association of Shp2 with Phosphorylated IL-22R1 is Required for Interleukin-22-induced MAP Kinase Activation.
[Abstract]Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a member of the IL-10 family of cytokines produced by activated T cells and is involved in several tissue responses. IL-22 signals through a heterodimeric receptor composed of IL-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1) and IL-10R2, and the intracellular signaling pathways mediated by IL-22 receptor are not completely known. Here we investigate the effect of Src homology-2 containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase (Shp2) on IL-22 signaling pathway using SW480 colon cancer cells as a model. The results show that IL-22 induces IL-22R1 phosphorylation, and Shp2 is recruited to the tyrosine phosphorylated IL-22R1 upon IL-22 stimulation. Furthermore, Tyr251 and Tyr301 of IL-22R1 are required for Shp2 binding to the IL-22R1. Shp2 binding to IL-22R1 and Shp2 protein tyrosine phosphatase activity are required for activation of MAP kinases and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) phosphorylation by IL-22. These results reveal a critical role of Shp2 in IL-22 mediated signal transduction pathways.
3: European journal of dermatology : EJD, 2010 Apr 19, 50(2)
A novel missense mutation in tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily 1A (TNFRSF1A) gene found in tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) with high serum interleukin (IL)-22.
[Abstract]A proinflammatory role of T helper (Th)17 cells, producing IL-22 and IL-17A, has been favored although there is evidence for negative immune regulation by IL-17A. Here we show that IL-22 was produced during an allergic response in lungs of mice, immunized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), and that IL-22 neutralization further augmented the eosinophil recruitment to the lung. In a second allergy model, transfer of OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) into naive mice conveyed eosinophil recruitment in response to subsequent inhaled OVA challenge, while DC preincubation with recombinant IL-22 abolished this response. Similarly, DC preincubation with IL-17A abolished DC-driven eosinophil recruitment, showing that both Th17 cytokines IL-22 and IL-17A mediate negative regulation of allergy by acting on DCs. Therefore, IL-22 inhibits DC functions and attenuates an allergic response.
4: Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry, 2010 Jan, 31(1)
A rapid bioassay for recombinant interleukin-22.
[Abstract]Interleukin-22 is a novel cytokine produced mainly in activated T cells. The elaborate biological functions of IL-22 in vivo are still widely unknown. In this report, we describe a rapid, simple, and reproducible in vitro cell-based bioassay for measuring the bioactivity of recombinant interleukin-22 (IL-22) to study the primary function of IL-22 in vivo. Human hepatocyte cell line (HepG2) was transfected with pSTAT3-Luc, a plasmid carrying the luciferase gene under the control of STAT3. After screening and selection, one stable clone was established which generates a strong response to recombinant human IL-22 (rhIL-22) stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. The cell showed ED50 of 17.0 +/- 1.4 ng/mL (n = 15) to recombinant human IL-22. Pre-incubation of anti-IL-22 mAb with IL-22 recombinant proteins completely blocked the bioactivities. The assay can be completed within one day. The current assay provides a rapid analytical method to measure the biological activity of IL-22 in vitro.
5: PLoS pathogens, 2010 Feb, 6(2)
Differentiation, Distribution and gammadelta T Cell-Driven Regulation of IL-22-Producing T Cells in Tuberculosis.
[Abstract]Differentiation, distribution and immune regulation of human IL-22-producing T cells in infections remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated in a nonhuman primate model that M. tuberculosis infection resulted in apparent increases in numbers of T cells capable of producing IL-22 de novo without in vitro Ag stimulation, and drove distribution of these cells more dramatically in lungs than in blood and lymphoid tissues. Consistently, IL-22-producing T cells were visualized in situ in lung tuberculosis (TB) granulomas by confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry, indicating that mature IL-22-producing T cells were present in TB granuloma. Surprisingly, phosphoantigen HMBPP activation of Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells down-regulated the capability of T cells to produce IL-22 de novo in lymphocytes from blood, lung/BAL fluid, spleen and lymph node. Up-regulation of IFNgamma-producing Vgamma2Vdelta2 T effector cells after HMBPP stimulation coincided with the down-regulated capacity of these T cells to produce IL-22 de novo. Importantly, anti-IFNgamma neutralizing Ab treatment reversed the HMBPP-mediated down-regulation effect on IL-22-producing T cells, suggesting that Vgamma2Vdelta2 T-cell-driven IFNgamma-networking function was the mechanism underlying the HMBPP-mediated down-regulation of the capability of T cells to produce IL-22. These novel findings raise the possibility to ultimately investigate the function of IL-22 producing T cells and to target Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells for balancing potentially hyper-activating IL-22-producing T cells in severe TB.
6: Cytokine, 2010 Feb 27, 90(3)
Interleukin-22 is a negative regulator of the allergic response.
[Abstract]A proinflammatory role of T helper (Th)17 cells, producing IL-22 and IL-17A, has been favored although there is evidence for negative immune regulation by IL-17A. Here we show that IL-22 was produced during an allergic response in lungs of mice, immunized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), and that IL-22 neutralization further augmented the eosinophil recruitment to the lung. In a second allergy model, transfer of OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) into naive mice conveyed eosinophil recruitment in response to subsequent inhaled OVA challenge, while DC preincubation with recombinant IL-22 abolished this response. Similarly, DC preincubation with IL-17A abolished DC-driven eosinophil recruitment, showing that both Th17 cytokines IL-22 and IL-17A mediate negative regulation of allergy by acting on DCs. Therefore, IL-22 inhibits DC functions and attenuates an allergic response.
7: Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology, 2010 Jan 11,
Involvement of the IL-22/REG Ialpha axis in ulcerative colitis.
[Abstract]The Regenerating gene (REG) Ialpha protein, a trophic and/or anti-apoptotic factor, is important in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-22 is a recently identified cytokine that is suggested to have pivotal roles in inflammatory bowel diseases. We therefore investigated the involvement of the IL-22/REG Ialpha axis and examined the mechanism of regulation of REG Ialpha expression by IL-22 stimulation in ulcerative colitis (UC) mucosa. Expression of IL-22, IL-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1), and REG Ialpha in UC mucosa was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The effects of IL-22 on REG Ialpha protein expression were examined using a small-interfering RNA for STAT3, an MAPK inhibitor or a PI3K inhibitor. The element responsible for IL-22-induced REG Ialpha promoter activation was determined by a promoter deletion and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The expression of IL-22 was enhanced in infiltrating inflammatory cells, and that of IL-22R1 and REG Ialpha was concurrently enhanced in the inflamed epithelium in UC mucosa. The levels of REG Ialpha and IL-22 mRNA expression were strongly correlated, and the distributions of REG Ialpha- and IL-22R1-positive epithelial cells were very similar. IL-22 simulation enhanced the expression of REG Ialpha protein through STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation in colon cancer cells. The IL-22-responsive element was located between -142 and -134 in the REG Ialpha promoter region. REG Ialpha protein may have a pathophysiological role as a biological mediator for immune cell-derived IL-22 in the UC mucosa.Laboratory Investigation advance online publication, 11 January 2010; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2009.147.
8: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 2010 Jan 8,
IL-24 Transgenic Mice: In Vivo Evidence of Overlapping Functions for IL-20, IL-22, and IL-24 in the Epidermis.
[Abstract]IL-20 and IL-24 share two different heterodimeric receptors consisting of either IL-20R1 or IL-22R1 and a common IL-20R2 subunit, whereas IL-22 signals through IL-22R1/IL-10R2. However, until now, only IL-20 and IL-22 have been proven to play important roles in vivo in the epidermis where all four receptor subunits are expressed. In this study, we show that IL-24 transgenic mice manifest many similar phenotypes to that of IL-20 and IL-22, including neonatal lethality, epidermal hyperplasia, and abnormality in keratinocyte differentiation. These results support a largely redundant role in epidermal functions for IL-20, IL-22, and IL-24, which seem to be IL-22R1 dependent. Moreover, we show that IL-24 transgenic mice exhibit infiltrating macrophages in the dermis with concomitant increases in MCP-1 production from both keratinocytes in the epidermis and immune infiltrates in the adjacent dermal layer below. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the homodimeric IL-20R2 soluble receptor is a potent blocker for IL-24 and can be used to further dissect the crosstalk among the IL-20 family of cytokines in normal development as well as in autoimmune diseases.
9: Arthritis and rheumatism, 2009 Dec 28, 62(1)
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) modulates Th17 polarization and interleukin-22 expression by memory T cells from patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.
[Abstract]OBJECTIVE: To examine the immunologic mechanism by which 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25[OH](2)D(3)) may prevent corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a focus on T cell biology. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4+CD45RO+ (memory) and CD4+CD45RO- (non-memory) T cells separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from treatment-naive patients with early RA were stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 in the absence or presence of various concentrations of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), dexamethasone (DEX), and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and DEX combined. Levels of T cell cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The presence of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) reduced interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and interferon-gamma levels and increased IL-4 levels in stimulated PBMCs from treatment-naive patients with early RA. In addition, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) had favorable effects on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha):IL-4 and IL-17A:IL-4 ratios and prevented the unfavorable effects of DEX on these ratios. Enhanced percentages of IL-17A- and IL-22-expressing CD4+ T cells and IL-17A-expressing memory T cells were observed in PBMCs from treatment-naive patients with early RA as compared with healthy controls. Of note, we found no difference in the percentage of CD45RO+ and CD45RO- cells between these 2 groups. Interestingly, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), in contrast to DEX, directly modulated human Th17 polarization, accompanied by suppression of IL-17A, IL-17F, TNFalpha, and IL-22 production by memory T cells sorted by FACS from patients with early RA. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) may contribute its bone-sparing effects in RA patients taking corticosteroids by the modulation of Th17 polarization, inhibition of Th17 cytokines, and stimulation of IL-4.
10: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009 Dec 8,
Human Langerhans cells induce distinct IL-22-producing CD4+ T cells lacking IL-17 production.
[Abstract]IL-22 is a cytokine that acts mainly on epithelial cells. In the skin, it mediates keratinocyte proliferation and epidermal hyperplasia and is thought to play a central role in inflammatory diseases with marked epidermal acanthosis, such as psoriasis. Although IL-22 was initially considered a Th17 cytokine, increasing evidence suggests that T helper cells can produce IL-22 even without IL-17 expression. In addition, we have shown the existence of this unique IL-22-producing T cell in normal skin and in the skin of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients. In the present study, we investigated the ability of cutaneous resident dendritic cells (DCs) to differentiate IL-22-producing cells. Using FACS, we isolated Langerhans cells (LCs; HLA-DR(+)CD207(+) cells) and dermal DCs (HLA-DR(hi)CD11c(+)BDCA-1(+) cells) from normal human epidermis and dermis, respectively. Both LCs and dermal DCs significantly induced IL-22-producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from peripheral blood T cells and naive CD4(+) T cells in mixed leukocyte reactions. LCs were more powerful in the induction of IL-22-producing cells than dermal DCs. Moreover, in vitro-generated LC-type DCs induced IL-22-producing cells more efficiently than monocyte-derived DCs. The induced IL-22 production was more correlated with IFN-gamma than IL-17. Surprisingly, the majority of IL-22-producing cells induced by LCs and dermal DCs lacked the expression of IL-17, IFN-gamma, and IL-4. Thus, LCs and dermal DCs preferentially induced helper T cells to produce only IL-22, possibly "Th22" cells. Our data indicate that cutaneous DCs, especially LCs, may control the generation of distinct IL-22 producing Th22 cells infiltrating into the skin.
11: The Journal of experimental medicine, 2009 Dec 7,
Interleukin (IL)-23 mediates Toxoplasma gondii-induced immunopathology in the gut via matrixmetalloproteinase-2 and IL-22 but independent of IL-17.
[Abstract]Peroral infection with Toxoplasma gondii leads to the development of small intestinal inflammation dependent on Th1 cytokines. The role of Th17 cells in ileitis is unknown. We report interleukin (IL)-23-mediated gelatinase A (matrixmetalloproteinase [MMP]-2) up-regulation in the ileum of infected mice. MMP-2 deficiency as well as therapeutic or prophylactic selective gelatinase blockage protected mice from the development of T. gondii-induced immunopathology. Moreover, IL-23-dependent up-regulation of IL-22 was essential for the development of ileitis, whereas IL-17 was down-regulated and dispensable. CD4(+) T cells were the main source of IL-22 in the small intestinal lamina propria. Thus, IL-23 regulates small intestinal inflammation via IL-22 but independent of IL-17. Gelatinases may be useful targets for treatment of intestinal inflammation.
12: American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology, 2009 Oct 29, 2(6)
IL-22 is involved in liver regeneration after hepatectomy.
[Abstract]Hepatocyte proliferation following partial hepatectomy is an important component of liver regeneration and recent in vitro studies have shown that IL-22 is involved in cellular proliferation in a variety of cell types, including hepatocytes. IL-22 functions through IL-10Rbeta and IL-22Ralpha. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential role of IL-22 in liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy. Following 70% hepatectomy, done under general anesthesia in mice, serum IL-22 and hepatic IL-22Ralpha mRNA were significantly increased. While administration of exogenous IL-22 prior to hepatectomy did not increase hepatocyte proliferation, administration of anti-IL-22 antibody before hepatectomy did significantly decreased hepatocyte proliferation. Further, IL-22 treatment prior to 70% hepatectomy induced stat-3 activation; no significant changes were seen in ERK1/2 activation, stat-1 activation or stat-5 activation. IL-22 pretreatment also significantly increased hepatic and serum IL-6 levels. In addition, animals treated with anti-IL-22 antibody expressed less TGF-alpha. Conclusions: These data suggest that IL-22 is involved in liver regeneration and this may be due to interaction with IL-6- and TGF-alpha cascades.
13: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 2009 Oct 28, 2(6)
IL-22 Produced by Human NK Cells Inhibits Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Enhancing Phagolysosomal Fusion.
[Abstract]We determined whether human NK cells could contribute to immune defenses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis through production of IL-22. CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells produced IL-22 when exposed to autologous monocytes and gamma-irradiated M. tuberculosis, and this depended on the presence of IL-15 and IL-23, but not IL-12 or IL-18. IL-15-stimulated NK cells expressed 10.6 times more DAP10 mRNA compared with control NK cells, and DAP10 siRNA inhibited IL-15-mediated IL-22 production by NK cells. Soluble factors produced by IL-15-activated NK cells inhibited growth of M. tuberculosis in macrophages, and this effect was reversed by anti-IL-22. Addition of rIL-22 to infected macrophages enhanced phagolysosomal fusion and reduced growth of M. tuberculosis. We conclude that NK cells can contribute to immune defenses against M. tuberculosis through production of IL-22, which inhibits intracellular mycobacterial growth by enhancing phagolysosomal fusion. IL-15 and DAP-10 elicit IL-22 production by NK cells in response to M. tuberculosis.
14: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 2009 Oct 21, 114(17)
The Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor NKp46 Is Dispensable for IL-22-Mediated Innate Intestinal Immune Defense against Citrobacter rodentium.
[Abstract]Natural cytotoxicity receptors (including NKp30, NKp44, and NKp46 in humans and NKp46 in mice) are type I transmembrane proteins that signal NK cell activation via ITAM-containing adapter proteins in response to stress- and pathogen-induced ligands. Although murine NKp46 expression (encoded by Ncr1) was thought to be predominantly restricted to NK cells, the identification of distinct intestinal NKp46(+) cell subsets that express the transcription factor Rorc and produce IL-22 suggests a broader function for NKp46 that could involve intestinal homeostasis and immune defense. Using mice carrying a GFP-modified Ncr1 allele, we found normal numbers of gut CD3(-)GFP(+) cells with a similar cell surface phenotype and subset distribution in the absence of Ncr1. Splenic and intestinal CD3(-)NKp46(+) cell subsets showed distinct patterns of cytokine secretion (IFN-gamma, IL-22) following activation via NK1.1, NKp46, IL-12 plus IL-18, or IL-23. However, IL-22 production was sharply restricted to intestinal CD3(-)GFP(+) cells with the CD127(+)NK1.1(-) phenotype and could be induced in an Ncr1-independent fashion. Because NKp46 ligands can trigger immune activation in the context of infectious pathogens, we assessed the response of wild-type and Ncr-1-deficient Rag2(-/)(-) mice to the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. No differences in the survival or clinical score were observed in C. rodentium-infected Rag2(-/)(-) mice lacking Ncr1, indicating that NKp46 plays a redundant role in the differentiation of intestinal IL-22(+) cells that mediate innate defense against this pathogen. Our results provide further evidence for functional heterogeneity in intestinal NKp46(+) cells that contrast with splenic NK cells.
15: Molecular biology reports, 2009 Sep 16, 284(39)
Expression, purification and characterization of recombinant human interleukin-22 in Pichia pastoris.
[Abstract]Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a member of the IL-10 family. Its potential in clinical use has been highlighted for its important roles in promoting antimicrobial defense and preventing epithelial damages. Previous studies have reported that IL-22 can be expressed using prokaryotic systems and purified from inclusion bodies, however the recovery rate was poor. To produce functional IL-22 with a high yield, human IL-22 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pPICZalphaA and transformed into Pichia pastoris. The expression of recombinant human IL-22 (rhIL-22) was induced by methanol and accounted for about 85% of the total secreted proteins. A simple purification strategy was established to purify the rhIL-22 from the culture supernatant, yielding 100 mg/l at 90% purity by chromatography with a SP Sepharose FF column. Bioactivity analysis showed the purified rhIL-22 demonstrated a specific activity that was comparable with the commercial one. This study provides a new strategy for large-scale production of bioactive IL-22 for use in basic studies and therapeutic applications.
16: Immunology and cell biology, 2009 Sep 15, 284(39)
Interleukin-22-producing T cells: a specialized population involved in skin inflammation?
[Abstract]Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a member of the IL-10 family. Its potential in clinical use has been highlighted for its important roles in promoting antimicrobial defense and preventing epithelial damages. Previous studies have reported that IL-22 can be expressed using prokaryotic systems and purified from inclusion bodies, however the recovery rate was poor. To produce functional IL-22 with a high yield, human IL-22 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pPICZalphaA and transformed into Pichia pastoris. The expression of recombinant human IL-22 (rhIL-22) was induced by methanol and accounted for about 85% of the total secreted proteins. A simple purification strategy was established to purify the rhIL-22 from the culture supernatant, yielding 100 mg/l at 90% purity by chromatography with a SP Sepharose FF column. Bioactivity analysis showed the purified rhIL-22 demonstrated a specific activity that was comparable with the commercial one. This study provides a new strategy for large-scale production of bioactive IL-22 for use in basic studies and therapeutic applications.
17: Mucosal immunology, 2009 Nov, 2(6)
CXCL13 expression in the gut promotes accumulation of IL-22-producing lymphoid tissue-inducer cells, and formation of isolated lymphoid follicles.
[Abstract]The chemokine CXCL13 is overexpressed in the intestine during inflammation. To mimic this condition, we created transgenic mice-expressing CXCL13 in intestinal epithelial cells. CXCL13 expression promoted a marked increase in the number of B cells in the lamina propria and an increase in the size and number of lymphoid follicles in the small intestine. Surprisingly, these changes were associated with a marked increase in the numbers of RORgammat(+)NKp46(-)CD3(-)CD4(+) and RORgammat(+)NKp46(+) cells. The RORgammat(+)NKp46(-)CD3(-)CD4(+) cells expressed CXCR5, the receptor for CXCL13, and other markers of lymphoid tissue-inducer cells, such as LTalpha, LTbeta, and TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE). RORgammat(+)NKp46(-)CD3(-)CD4(+) gut LTi cells produced IL-22, a cytokine implicated in epithelial repair; and expressed the IL-23 receptor, a key regulator of IL-22 production. These results suggest that overexpression of CXCL13 in the intestine during inflammatory conditions favors mobilization of B cells and of LTi and NK cells with immunomodulatory and reparative functions.
18: Blood, 2009 Oct 22, 114(17)
Multiparametric analysis of cytokine-driven human Th17 differentiation reveals a differential regulation of IL-17 and IL-22 production.
[Abstract]T helper 17 (Th17) cells produce IL-17 but can also make tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-21, and IL-22. These cytokines collectively contribute to the functional outcome of the Th response. IL-22 plays a critical role in some Th17-associated diseases, such as psoriasis, but its relationship to IL-17 remains controversial. Here, we used a systematic multiparametric analysis of Th-17-associated cytokines, which revealed the unexpected finding that the regulation pattern of IL-22 was most closely related to interferon-gamma, the prototypical Th1 cytokine, and not to IL-17. To explain this observation, we systematically tested the role of Th1- and Th17-inducing cytokines. We could show that IL-12 and IL-23 induced high levels of IL-22 but no IL-17. Conversely, transforming growth factor-beta inhibited IL-22 production but promoted IL-17. Thus, IL-17 and IL-22 are differentially regulated during cytokine-induced Th cell differentiation. This has important implications for the understanding and pharmacologic manipulation of Th17-associated pathologies.
19: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 2009 Jul, 23(7)
Increased serum levels of interleukin-22 in patients affected by pityriasis rosea.
[Abstract]Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is a pleiotropic transcription factor with important functions in cytokine signaling in a variety of tissues. However, the role of STAT3 in the intestinal epithelium is not well understood. We demonstrate that development of colonic inflammation is associated with the induction of STAT3 activity in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Studies in genetically engineered mice showed that epithelial STAT3 activation in dextran sodium sulfate colitis is dependent on interleukin (IL)-22 rather than IL-6. IL-22 was secreted by colonic CD11c(+) cells in response to Toll-like receptor stimulation. Conditional knockout mice with an IEC-specific deletion of STAT3 activity were highly susceptible to experimental colitis, indicating that epithelial STAT3 regulates gut homeostasis. STAT3(IEC-KO) mice, upon induction of colitis, showed a striking defect of epithelial restitution. Gene chip analysis indicated that STAT3 regulates the cellular stress response, apoptosis, and pathways associated with wound healing in IECs. Consistently, both IL-22 and epithelial STAT3 were found to be important in wound-healing experiments in vivo. In summary, our data suggest that intestinal epithelial STAT3 activation regulates immune homeostasis in the gut by promoting IL-22-dependent mucosal wound healing.
20: The Journal of biological chemistry, 2009 Sep 25, 284(39)
New activation modus of STAT3: a tyrosine-less region of the interleukin-22 receptor recruits STAT3 by interacting with its coiled-coil domain.
[Abstract]Activation of STAT proteins by cytokines is initiated by their Src homology 2 domain-mediated association with phosphotyrosine residues from the cytoplasmic domain of a receptor. Here, we show that the C terminus of the interleukin-22 receptor (IL-22R) recruits in a tyrosine-independent manner the coiled-coil domain of STAT3. Mutation of all IL-22R cytoplasmic tyrosines did not abolish activation of STAT3, in contrast to that of STAT1 and STAT5. Coimmunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pulldown experiments showed that the coiled-coil domain of STAT3 is constitutively associated with the C-terminal part of IL-22R, and a chimeric STAT3-STAT5 protein containing the coiled-coil domain of STAT3 could be activated by this tyrosine-independent mechanism. Deletion of the C-terminal part of IL-22R dramatically decreased its ability to activate STAT3 and to mediate IL-22 activity in cell lines, demonstrating that preassociation of STAT3 with this cytokine receptor, independent from the interaction between the Src homology 2 domain and phosphotyrosines, is required for its full activity.
21: The Journal of clinical investigation, 2009 Aug, 119(8)
IL-17 and IL-22 are associated with protection against human kala azar caused by Leishmania donovani.
[Abstract]IL-17 and IL-22 have been shown to increase protection against certain bacteria and fungal pathogens in experimental models. However, no human studies have demonstrated a crucial role of IL-17 and IL-22 in protection against infections. We show here that Leishmania donovani, which can cause the lethal visceral disease Kala Azar (KA), stimulates the differentiation of Th17 cells, which produce IL-17, IL-22, and IFN-gamma. Analysis of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine responses by cultured PBMCs from individuals in a cohort of subjects who developed KA or were protected against KA during a severe outbreak showed that IL-17 and IL-22 were strongly and independently associated with protection against KA. Our results suggest that, along with Th1 cytokines, IL-17 and IL-22 play complementary roles in human protection against KA, and that a defect in Th17 induction may increase the risk of KA.
22: Immunity, 2009 Jul 17, 31(1)
Interleukin-22-producing natural killer cells and lymphoid tissue inducer-like cells in mucosal immunity.
[Abstract]Blood, lymphoid tissues, and placenta contain diverse subpopulations of natural killer (NK) cells that possess distinct immune functions. Recent studies have shown that human and mouse gut-associated lymphoid tissues harbor a unique NK cell subset that specializes in production of interleukin (IL)-22. This cytokine plays a role in host defense of mucosal barriers, although dysregulated secretion may cause autoimmune disease. In parallel, human fetal lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells and mouse adult LTi-like cells in secondary lymphoid tissues were found to release IL-22, as well as IL-17, a proinflammatory cytokine that mediates host defense against extracellular pathogens. Here, we compare these recently identified immune cells, reviewing what is known about their anatomical location, differentiation requirements, function, and potential involvement in host defense and autoimmunity. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced in furthering our understanding of the developmental relationships and role of NK and LTi-like cells in mucosal immune responses.
23: Nature immunology, 2009 Aug, 10(8)
Production of interleukin 22 but not interleukin 17 by a subset of human skin-homing memory T cells.
[Abstract]Interleukin 22 (IL-22) is a cytokine produced by the T(H)-17 lineage of helper T cells and NK-22 subset of natural killer cells that acts on epithelial cells and keratinocytes and has been linked to skin homeostasis and inflammation. Here we characterize a population of human skin-homing memory CD4(+) T cells that expressed the chemokine receptors CCR10, CCR6 and CCR4 and produced IL-22 but neither IL-17 nor interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Clones isolated from this population produced IL-22 only and had low or undetectable expression of the T(H)-17 and T helper type 1 (T(H)1) transcription factors RORgammat and T-bet. The differentiation of T cells producing only IL-22 was efficiently induced in naive T cells by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in an IL-6- and tumor necrosis factor-dependent way. Our findings delineate a previously unknown subset of human CD4(+) effector T cells dedicated to skin pathophysiology.
24: Nature immunology, 2009 Aug, 10(8)
Identification of a human helper T cell population that has abundant production of interleukin 22 and is distinct from T(H)-17, T(H)1 and T(H)2 cells.
[Abstract]Interleukin 22 (IL-22) is a member of the IL-10 cytokine family that is involved in inflammatory and wound healing processes. Originally considered a T helper type 1 (T(H)1)-associated cytokine, IL-22 has since been shown to be produced mainly by IL-17-producing helper T cells (T(H)-17 cells). Here we describe a previously uncharacterized IL-22-producing human helper T cell population that coexpressed the chemokine receptor CCR6 and the skin-homing receptors CCR4 and CCR10. These cells were distinct from both T(H)-17 cells and T(H)1 cells. Downregulation of either the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) or the transcription factor RORC by RNA-mediated interference affected IL-22 production, whereas IL-17 production was affected only by downregulation of RORC by RNA-mediated interference. AHR agonists substantially altered the balance of IL-22- versus IL-17-producing cells. This subset of IL-22-producing cells may be important in skin homeostasis and pathology.
25: The Journal of experimental medicine, 2009 Jul 6, 206(7)
STAT3 links IL-22 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells to mucosal wound healing.
[Abstract]Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is a pleiotropic transcription factor with important functions in cytokine signaling in a variety of tissues. However, the role of STAT3 in the intestinal epithelium is not well understood. We demonstrate that development of colonic inflammation is associated with the induction of STAT3 activity in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Studies in genetically engineered mice showed that epithelial STAT3 activation in dextran sodium sulfate colitis is dependent on interleukin (IL)-22 rather than IL-6. IL-22 was secreted by colonic CD11c(+) cells in response to Toll-like receptor stimulation. Conditional knockout mice with an IEC-specific deletion of STAT3 activity were highly susceptible to experimental colitis, indicating that epithelial STAT3 regulates gut homeostasis. STAT3(IEC-KO) mice, upon induction of colitis, showed a striking defect of epithelial restitution. Gene chip analysis indicated that STAT3 regulates the cellular stress response, apoptosis, and pathways associated with wound healing in IECs. Consistently, both IL-22 and epithelial STAT3 were found to be important in wound-healing experiments in vivo. In summary, our data suggest that intestinal epithelial STAT3 activation regulates immune homeostasis in the gut by promoting IL-22-dependent mucosal wound healing.
26: Current opinion in pharmacology, 2009 Aug, 9(4)
Anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory roles of TGF-beta, IL-10, and IL-22 in immunity and autoimmunity.
[Abstract]Cytokines play a major role in maintaining lymphocyte homeostasis under both steady-state and inflammatory conditions. Unregulated lymphocytes in steady-state conditions can lead to autoimmunity, whereas during inflammation they can cause excessive tissue damage. Regulatory cytokines function in combination with other environmental signals to properly modulate the function and the extent of lymphocyte activation. Many recent studies have highlighted the importance of regulatory cytokines in controlling the differentiation and function of lymphocytes under steady-state and inflammatory conditions, as well as minimizing tissue damage.
27: European journal of immunology, 2009 Jun, 39(6)
Memory IL-22-producing CD4+ T cells specific for Candida albicans are present in humans.
[Abstract]Co-expression of IL-22 and IL-17 has been identified and demonstrated to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases as well as the defense against pathogenic infections in animal studies. However, the properties of IL-22-producing cells in humans remain largely unclear. In the present study, we showed that IL-22 could be induced from human PBMC following various polyclonal stimulations. The majority of IL-22-producing cells in PBMC were CD4(+) T cells with a memory cell phenotype. In addition, we found that a subset of IL-22(+) T cells produced IL-22 alone, whereas other IL-22(+) T cells co-expressed cytokines typical of Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells. Importantly, stimulation of PBMC from healthy adults with heat-inactivated Candida albicans (C. albicans) yeast or hyphae resulted in IL-22 production by central and effector memory CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, CD4(+)CCR6(+) but not CD4(+)CCR6(-) T cells produced IL-22 when stimulated with either C. albicans or PMA and ionomycin. In addition, PBMC from the individuals infected with C. albicans produced a significantly higher amount of IL-22 compared with healthy controls following stimulation with C. albicans. These data demonstrate that IL-22-producing T cells in humans may play an important role in the defense against fungal infections such as C. albicans.
28: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 2009 Jun, 123(6)
IL-22-producing "T22" T cells account for upregulated IL-22 in atopic dermatitis despite reduced IL-17-producing TH17 T cells.
[Abstract]BACKGROUND: Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common inflammatory skin diseases. An upregulated TH17/IL-23 pathway was demonstrated in psoriasis. Although potential involvement of TH17 T cells in AD was suggested during acute disease, the role of these cells in chronic AD remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in IL-23/TH17 signal between these diseases and establish relative frequencies of T-cell subsets in AD. METHODS: Skin biopsies and peripheral blood were collected from patients with chronic AD (n = 12) and psoriasis (n = 13). Relative frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets within these 2 compartments were examined by intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In peripheral blood, no significant difference was found in percentages of different T-cell subsets between these diseases. In contrast, psoriatic skin had significantly increased frequencies of TH1 and TH17 T cells compared with AD, whereas TH2 T cells were significantly elevated in AD. Distinct IL-22-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations were significantly increased in AD skin compared with psoriasis. IL-22+CD8+ T-cell frequency correlated with AD disease severity. CONCLUSION: Our data established that T cells could independently express IL-22 even with low expression levels of IL-17. This argues for a functional specialization of T cells such that "T17" and "T22" T-cells may drive different features of epidermal pathology in inflammatory skin diseases, including induction of antimicrobial peptides for "T17" T cells and epidermal hyperplasia for "T22" T-cells. Given the clinical correlation with disease severity, further characterization of "T22" T cells is warranted, and may have future therapeutic implications.
29: Blood, 2009 Feb 24,
Stage three immature human natural killer cells found in secondary lymphoid tissue constitutively and selectively express the TH17 cytokine interleukin-22.
[Abstract]Considerable functional heterogeneity within human natural killer (NK) cells has been revealed through the characterization of distinct NK cell subsets. Accordingly, a small subset of CD56(+)NKp44(+)NK cells termed "NK-22" cells, was recently described within secondary lymphoid tissue (SLT) as IL-22(-) when resting, with a minor fraction of this population becoming IL-22(+) when activated. Here we discover that the vast majority of stage three immature (i) human NK cells in SLT constitutively and selectively express IL-22, a TH17 cytokine important for mucosal immunity, while earlier and later stages of NK developmental intermediates do not express IL-22. These iNK cells have a surface phenotype of CD34(-)CD117(+)CD161(+)CD94(-), largely lack expression of NKp44 and CD56, and do not produce IFN-gamma nor possess cytolytic activity. In summary, human stage three iNK cells are highly enriched for IL-22 and IL-26 messenger RNA, IL-22 protein production, but do not express IL-17A or IL-17F.
30: Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany), 2009 Feb 14,
IL-22: A critical mediator in mucosal host defense.
[Abstract]IL-22 is an IL-10 family cytokine member that was recently discovered to be produced by Th17 cells. Current studies have revealed that IL-22 targets cells of the digestive, skin, and respiratory organ systems and plays an important role in mucosal immunity. The IL-22 receptor (IL-22R) is expressed exclusively in these tissues, thereby allowing the cytokine to mediate epithelial innate immunity in response to a variety of pathogens. Although recent studies have shown the importance of IL-22 in host defense against Gram-negative bacterial organisms (in gut and lung), there is evidence that IL-22 also plays a role in autoimmune disease, such as psoriasis. IL-22 therefore, not unlike other cytokines, has complex pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and autoimmune effects which continue to be under further investigation. This review will focus on what is known about IL-22 and its function in mucosal host defense.
31: Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology and crystallization communications, 2009 Feb 1, 65(Pt 2)
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of human IL-22 bound to its soluble decoy receptor IL-22BP.
[Abstract]Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is involved in inflammatory responses. Human IL-22 was incubated with its soluble decoy receptor IL-22BP (IL-22 binding protein) and the IL-22-IL-22BP complex was crystallized in hanging drops using the vapour-diffusion method. Suitable crystals were obtained from polyethylene glycol solutions and diffraction data were collected to 2.75 A resolution. The crystal belonged to the tetragonal space group P4(1), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 67.9, c = 172.5 A, and contained two IL-22-IL-22BP complexes per asymmetric unit.