Kuo CF, Chen WY, Yu HH, Tsai YH, Chang YC, Chang CP, Tsao N. IL-33/ST2 Axis Plays a Protective Effect in
Streptococcus pyogenes Infection through Strengthening of
the Innate Immunity.
Int J Mol Sci 2021;
22:10566. [PMID:
34638904 PMCID:
PMC8509005 DOI:
10.3390/ijms221910566]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes invasive human diseases with the cytokine storm. Interleukin-33 (IL-33)/suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) axis is known to drive TH2 response, while its effect on GAS infection is unclear. We used an air pouch model to examine the effect of the IL-33/ST2 axis on GAS-induced necrotizing fasciitis. GAS infection induced IL-33 expression in wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, whereas the IL-33- and ST2-knockout mice had higher mortality rates, more severe skin lesions and higher bacterial loads in the air pouches than those of WT mice after infection. Surveys of infiltrating cells in the air pouch of GAS-infected mice at the early stage found that the number and cell viability of infiltrating cells in both gene knockout mice were lower than those of WT mice. The predominant effector cells in GAS-infected air pouches were neutrophils. Absence of the IL-33/ST2 axis enhanced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, but not TH1 or TH2 cytokines, in the air pouch after infection. Using in vitro assays, we found that the IL-33/ST2 axis not only enhanced neutrophil migration but also strengthened the bactericidal activity of both sera and neutrophils. These results suggest that the IL-33/ST2 axis provided the protective effect on GAS infection through enhancing the innate immunity.
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