IL-6 activated integrated BATF/IRF4 functions in lymphocytes are T-bet-independent and reversed by subcutaneous immunotherapy

Sci Rep. 2013:3:1754. doi: 10.1038/srep01754.

Abstract

IL-6 plays a central role in supporting pathological T(H2) and T(H17) cell development and inhibiting the protective T regulatory cells in allergic asthma. T(H17) cells have been demonstrated to regulate allergic asthma in general and T-bet-deficiency-induced asthma in particular. Here we found an inverse correlation between T-bet and Il-6 mRNA expression in asthmatic children. Moreover, experimental subcutaneous immunotherapy (SIT) in T-bet((-/-)) mice inhibited IL-6, IL-21R and lung T(H17) cells in a setting of asthma. Finally, local delivery of an anti-IL-6R antibody in T-bet((-/-)) mice resulted in the resolution of this allergic trait. Noteworthy, BATF, crucial for the immunoglobulin-class-switch and T(H2),T(H17) development, was found down-regulated in the lungs of T-bet((-/-)) mice after SIT and after treatment with anti-IL-6R antibody, indicating a critical role of IL-6 in controlling BATF/IRF4 integrated functions in T(H2), T(H17) cells and B cells also in a T-bet independent fashion in allergic asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / metabolism
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / immunology*
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / immunology*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21 / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / immunology*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / immunology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Batf protein, mouse
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • Interleukin-6
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Interleukin-21
  • Receptors, Interleukin-6
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • interferon regulatory factor-4