IL-13 regulates Th17 secretion of IL-17A in an IL-10-dependent manner

J Immunol. 2012 Feb 1;188(3):1027-35. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102216. Epub 2011 Dec 30.

Abstract

IL-13 is a central mediator of airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus expression, both hallmarks of asthma. IL-13 is found in the sputum of patients with asthma; therefore, IL-13 is an attractive drug target for treating asthma. We have shown previously that IL-13 inhibits Th17 cell production of IL-17A and IL-21 in vitro. Th17 cells are associated with autoimmune diseases, host immune responses, and severe asthma. In this study, we extend our in vitro findings and determine that IL-13 increases IL-10 production from Th17-polarized cells and that IL-13-induced IL-10 production negatively regulates the secretion of IL-17A and IL-21. To determine if IL-13 negatively regulates lung IL-17A expression via an IL-10-dependent mechanism in vivo, we used a model of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strain A2 infection in STAT1 knockout (KO) mice that increases lung IL-17A and IL-13 expression, cytokines not produced during RSV infection in wild-type mice. To test the hypothesis that IL-13 negatively regulates lung IL-17A expression, we created STAT1/IL-13 double KO (DKO) mice. We found that RSV-infected STAT1/IL-13 DKO mice had significantly greater lung IL-17A expression compared with that of STAT1 KO mice and that increased IL-17A expression was abrogated by anti-IL-10 Ab treatment. RSV-infected STAT1/IL-13 DKO mice also had increased neutrophil infiltration compared with that of RSV-infected STAT1 KO mice. Neutralizing IL-10 increased the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs of STAT1 KO mice but not STAT1/IL-13 DKO mice. These findings are vital to understanding the potential side effects of therapeutics targeting IL-13. Inhibiting IL-13 may decrease IL-10 production and increase IL-17A production, thus potentiating IL-17A-associated diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement
  • Interleukin-10 / physiology*
  • Interleukin-13 / physiology*
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / immunology
  • Pneumonia / immunology
  • Pneumonia / pathology
  • Pneumonia / virology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • IL10 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-10