IL-22 induces Reg3γ and inhibits allergic inflammation in house dust mite–induced asthma models

Previous studies have shown that IL-22, one of the Th17 cell–related cytokines, plays multiple roles in regulating allergic airway inflammation caused by antigen-specific Th2 cells; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that allergic airway inflammation and Th2 and Th17 cytokine production upon intratracheal administration of house dust mite (HDM) extract, a representative allergen, were exacerbated in IL-22-deficient mice. We also found that IL-22 induces Reg3γ production from lung epithelial cells through STAT3 activation and that neutralization of Reg3γ significantly exacerbates HDM-induced eosinophilic airway inflammation and Th2 cytokine induction. Moreover, exostatin-like 3 (EXTL3), a functional Reg3γ binding protein, is expressed in lung epithelial cells, and intratracheal administration of recombinant Reg3γ suppresses HDM-induced thymic stromal lymphopoietin and IL-33 expression and accumulation of type 2 innate lymphoid cells in the lung. Collectively, these results suggest that IL-22 induces Reg3γ production from lung epithelial cells and inhibits the development of HDM-induced allergic airway inflammation, possibly by inhibiting cytokine production from lung epithelial cells.

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Absence of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 protects against house dust mite-induced pulmonary remodeling but not airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00153.2013 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 306 (9) ◽

pp. L866-L875 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Jos L. J. van der Velden ◽

Sidra M. Hoffman ◽

John F. Alcorn ◽

Jane E. Tully ◽

David G. Chapman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Airway Inflammation ◽

House Dust ◽

House Dust Mite ◽

Airway Hyperresponsiveness ◽

Airway Remodeling ◽

Lung Epithelial Cells ◽

Lung Epithelial ◽

Dust Mite ◽

Tgf Β1

Chronic allergic asthma leads to airway remodeling and subepithelial fibrosis via mechanisms not fully understood. Airway remodeling is amplified by profibrotic mediators, such as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which plays a cardinal role in various models of fibrosis. We recently have identified a critical role for c-Jun-NH2-terminal-kinase (JNK) 1 in augmenting the profibrotic effects of TGF-β1, linked to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of airway epithelial cells. To examine the role of JNK1 in house dust mite (HDM)-induced airway remodeling, we induced allergic airway inflammation in wild-type (WT) and JNK1−/− mice by intranasal administration of HDM extract. WT and JNK1−/− mice were sensitized with intranasal aspirations of HDM extract for 15 days over 3 wk. HDM caused similar increases in airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus metaplasia, and airway inflammation in WT and JNK1−/− mice. In addition, the profibrotic cytokine TGF-β1 and phosphorylation of Smad3 were equally increased in WT and JNK1−/− mice. In contrast, increases in collagen content in lung tissue induced by HDM were significantly attenuated in JNK1−/− mice compared with WT controls. Furthermore HDM-induced increases of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein and mRNA expression as well as the mesenchymal markers high-mobility group AT-hook 2 and collagen1A1 in WT mice were attenuated in JNK1−/− mice. The let-7 family of microRNAs has previously been linked to fibrosis. HDM exposure in WT mice and primary lung epithelial cells resulted in striking decreases in let-7g miRNA that were not observed in mice or primary lung epithelial cells lacking JNK1−/− mice. Overexpression of let-7g in lung epithelial cells reversed the HDM-induced increases in α-SMA. Collectively, these findings demonstrate an important requirement for JNK1 in promoting HDM-induced fibrotic airway remodeling.

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