Suppression of Bystander T Helper 1 Cells by Iris Pigment Epithelium-Inducing Regulatory T Cells via Negative Costimulatory Signals

Abstract Background CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an essential role in sepsis-induced immunosuppression. How, the effects of interleukin 36 (IL-36) cytokines on CD4+CD25+ Tregs and their underlying mechanism(s) in sepsis remain unknown. Methods Our study was designed to investigate the impacts of IL-36 cytokines on murine CD4+CD25+ Tregs in presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and in a mouse model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). IL-36–activated autophagy was evaluated by autophagy markers, autophagosome formation, and autophagic flux. Results IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ were expressed in murine CD4+CD25+ Tregs. Stimulation of CD4+CD25+ Tregs with LPS markedly up-regulated the expression of these cytokines, particularly IL-36β. IL-36β strongly suppressed CD4+CD25+ Tregs under LPS stimulation and in septic mice challenged with CLP, resulting in the amplification of T-helper 1 response and the proliferation of effector T cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that IL-36β triggered autophagy of CD4+CD25+ Tregs. These effects were significantly attenuated in the presence of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine or Beclin1 knockdown. In addition, early IL-36β administration reduced the mortality rate in mice subjected to CLP. Depletion of CD4+CD25+ Tregs before the onset of sepsis obviously abrogated IL-36β–mediated protection against sepsis. Conclusions These findings suggest that IL-36β diminishes the immunosuppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ Tregs by activating the autophagic process, thereby contributing to improvement of the host immune response and prognosis in sepsis.

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Radon Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases Pemphigus and Diabetes: 2 Case Reports

Dose-Response ◽

10.1177/1559325819850984 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 155932581985098 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Shuji Kojima ◽

Jerry M. Cuttler ◽

Noriko Shimura ◽

Hironobu Koga ◽

Akihisa Murata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Regulatory T Cells ◽

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

Type I Diabetes ◽

Case Reports ◽

Type I ◽

T Helper ◽

T Helper 1 ◽

Normal Ranges ◽

Cell Balance

We report on the application of radon therapy to relieve the suffering of 2 patients with autoimmune diseases, one with pemphigus with an old myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus and the other with type I diabetes. We include a lengthy discussion of the biological mechanisms that we believe produced the observed benefits. During the 6 to 9 months of the treatments, the marker values decreased to the upper limit of their normal ranges and the symptoms of the diseases were alleviated. Disorders of Th1/Th2 balance are implicated in the onset of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Our decision to give radon (222Rn) therapy to these patients was based on the results of 2 similar case reports and our earlier mouse experiments, which indicated that low doses of radiation induce regulatory T cells. Regulatory T cells regulate the T helper 1 cell and the T helper 2 cell balance. There are more than 80 different autoimmune diseases that are treated with anti-inflammatory agents or immune-suppressing drugs because the exact causes of these diseases and the cures are unknown. These and other case reports indicate that proper radon therapy is an effective treatment. We urge physicians to consider radon as a standard therapy for refractory autoimmune diseases.

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