Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress immune responses and maintain immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. We currently investigated relationships between skin barrier condition and Treg behavior using skin barrier-disrupted mice. Skin barrier disruption was induced by repeated topical application of 4% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on mice. The number of CD4+ forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3)+ Tregs was higher in 4% SDS-treated skins than in controls. This increasing was correlated with the degree of acanthosis. The numbers of interleukin (IL)-10+ and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β+ Tregs also increased in 4% SDS-treated skins. Localization of IL-33 in keratinocytes shifted from nucleus to cytoplasm after skin barrier disruption. Notably, IL-33 promoted the migration of Tregs in chemotaxis assay. The skin infiltration of Tregs was cancelled in IL-33 neutralizing antibody-treated mice and IL-33 knockout mice. Thus, keratinocyte-derived IL-33 may induce Treg migration into barrier-disrupted skin to control the phase transition between healthy and inflammatory conditions.
Keywords: IL-33; Treg; acanthosis; dry skin; homeostasis; skin barrier.