Innate interferons inhibit allergen and microbial specific T(H)2 responses

Immunol Cell Biol. 2012 Nov;90(10):974-7. doi: 10.1038/icb.2012.39. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Abstract

Several studies provided evidence of innate interferons (IFNs) regulating T(H)2 cytokine production using purified CD4(+) memory cells and T(H)2 polarisation via interleukin-4 (IL-4). Vitally, none of these previous studies examined IFN attenuation of T(H)2 responses to allergen or antigen. This study therefore sought to investigate the abrogation of specific allergen- and antigen-stimulated T(H)2 response in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from 12 sensitised individuals by IFN-β and IFN-λ. PBMC were cultured in the presence of house dust mite (HDM) allergen, rhinovirus (RV), influenza vaccine and tetanus toxoid (TT)±either IFN-β or IFN-λ for 3 and 5 days. IFN-γ, IL-5 and IL-13 protein levels were measured by ELISA. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to investigate induction of genes involved in control of T(H)2 cytokines. No alteration in T(H)1 IFN-γ allergen/antigen response was observed with addition of IFN-β or IFN-λ. Consistent abrogation of T(H)2 response to HDM and influenza was observed with IFN-β at both time points; attenuation was observed by day 5 with RV and TT. IFN-λ had no consistent effect on T(H)2 production except in the presence of RV (multiplicity of infection=5); a decrease in IL-5 alone was observed in the presence of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and suppressors of cytokine signalling3 mRNA were differentially regulated in HDM and influenza-stimulated cultures±IFN-β. We concluded that IFN-β produced a strong and consistent abrogation of T(H)2 cytokine production in the presence of a range of allergen and antigen stimulants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunization
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Interferon-beta / pharmacology*
  • Interleukins / pharmacology*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Rhinovirus / immunology
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / genetics
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / metabolism
  • Tetanus Toxin / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Dermatophagoides
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • interferon-lambda, human
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Interleukins
  • SOCS3 protein, human
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • Interferon-beta