Endogenous IL-33 enhances Th2 cytokine production and T-cell responses during allergic airway inflammation

J Louten, AL Rankin, Y Li, EE Murphy… - International …, 2011 - academic.oup.com
J Louten, AL Rankin, Y Li, EE Murphy, M Beaumont, C Moon, P Bourne, TK McClanahan…
International immunology, 2011academic.oup.com
Abstract IL-33 is an IL-1-related cytokine which has been implicated in Th2-associated
biology and allergic diseases in humans and mice. IL-33 stimulates Th2 cells, mast cells,
eosinophils, basophils, iNKT cells and circulating CD34+ stem cells to proliferate and
produce pro-allergic cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-13. IL-33 mediates its cytokine effects
through a receptor consisting of ST2 and IL-1RAcP. Whereas IL-1RAcP is ubiquitously
expressed, ST2 expression is cell-type restricted and determines responsiveness to IL-33 …
Abstract
IL-33 is an IL-1-related cytokine which has been implicated in Th2-associated biology and allergic diseases in humans and mice. IL-33 stimulates Th2 cells, mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, iNKT cells and circulating CD34+ stem cells to proliferate and produce pro-allergic cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-13. IL-33 mediates its cytokine effects through a receptor consisting of ST2 and IL-1RAcP. Whereas IL-1RAcP is ubiquitously expressed, ST2 expression is cell-type restricted and determines responsiveness to IL-33. Studies employing ST2-deficient mice have reported variable results on the role of this receptor, and consequently IL-33, with regards to allergic lung inflammation. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-33 is important for allergic lung inflammation. Intra-nasal administration of IL-33 triggered an immediate allergic response in the airways, and more importantly, we show that endogenous IL-33 contributes to airway inflammation and peripheral antigen-specific responses in ovalbumin-induced acute allergic lung inflammation using IL-33-deficient mice. Our results suggest that IL-33 is sufficient and required for severe allergic inflammation in the lung and support the concept of IL-33 as a therapeutic target in allergic lung inflammation.
Oxford University Press