Th22 cells are an important source of IL-22 for host protection against enteropathogenic bacteria.

Abstract

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is central to host protection against bacterial infections at barrier sites. Both innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and T cells produce IL-22. However, the specific contributions of CD4(+) T cells and their developmental origins are unclear. We found that the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium induced sequential waves of IL-22-producing ILCs and CD4(+) T cells that were each critical to host defense during a primary infection. Whereas IL-22 production by ILCs was strictly IL-23 dependent, development of IL-22-producing CD4(+) T cells occurred via an IL-6-dependent mechanism that was augmented by, but not dependent on, IL-23 and was dependent on both transcription factors T-bet and AhR. Transfer of CD4(+) T cells differentiated with IL-6 in the absence of TGF-β ("Th22" cells) conferred complete protection of infected IL-22-deficient mice whereas transferred Th17 cells did not. These findings establish Th22 cells as an important component of mucosal antimicrobial host defense.

• Authors: Rajatava Basu, Darrell B O'Quinn, Daniel J Silberger, Trenton R Schoeb, Lynette Fouser, Wenjun Ouyang, Robin D Hatton, Casey T Weaver
• Journal: Immunity (Immunity) Vol. 37 Issue 6 Pg. 1061-75 (Dec 14 2012) ISSN: 1097-4180 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23200827 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Inflammation Mediators
• Interleukin-23
• Interleukin-6
• Interleukins
• Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
• Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
• T-Box Domain Proteins
• T-box transcription factor TBX21
• interleukin-22

Topics

• Animals
• Citrobacter rodentium (immunology)
• Enterobacteriaceae Infections (immunology, mortality, prevention & control)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Inflammation Mediators (immunology, metabolism)
• Interleukin-23 (immunology, metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (immunology, metabolism)
• Interleukins (metabolism, physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Mucous Membrane (immunology, microbiology)
• Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 (genetics, immunology)
• Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon (genetics, immunology)
• T-Box Domain Proteins (genetics, immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer (immunology, metabolism)
• Th17 Cells (immunology, metabolism)