IL-10 signaling in dendritic cells controls IL-1β-mediated IFNγ secretion by human CD4+ T cells: relevance to inflammatory bowel disease

Uncontrolled interferon γ (IFNγ)-mediated T-cell responses to commensal microbiota are a driver of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is crucial for controlling these T-cell responses, but the precise mechanism of inhibition remains unclear. A better understanding of how IL-10 exerts its suppressive function may allow identification of individuals with suboptimal IL-10 function among the heterogeneous population of IBD patients. Using cells from patients with an IL10RA deficiency or STAT3 mutations, we demonstrate that IL-10 signaling in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs), but not T cells, is essential for controlling IFNγ-secreting CD4⁺ T cells. Deficiency in IL-10 signaling dramatically increased IL-1β release by moDCs. IL-1β boosted IFNγ secretion by CD4⁺ T cells either directly or indirectly by stimulating moDCs to secrete IL-12. As predicted a signature of IL-10 dysfunction was observed in a subgroup of pediatric IBD patients having higher IL-1β expression in activated immune cells and macroscopically affected intestinal tissue. In agreement, reduced IL10RA expression was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a subgroup of pediatric IBD patients exhibited diminished IL-10 responsiveness. Our data unveil an important mechanism by which IL-10 controls IFNγ-secreting CD4⁺ T cells in humans and identifies IL-1β as a potential classifier for a subgroup of IBD patients.

IL-10 signaling prevents gluten-dependent intraepithelial CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration and epithelial damage in the small intestine

Breach of tolerance to gluten leads to the chronic small intestinal enteropathy celiac disease. A key event in celiac disease development is gluten-dependent infiltration of activated cytotoxic intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), which cytolyze epithelial cells causing crypt hyperplasia and villous atrophy. The mechanisms leading to gluten-dependent small intestinal IEL infiltration and activation remain elusive. We have demonstrated that under homeostatic conditions in mice, gluten drives the differentiation of anti-inflammatory T cells producing large amounts of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Here we addressed whether this dominant IL-10 axis prevents gluten-dependent infiltration of activated cytotoxic IEL and subsequent small intestinal enteropathy. We demonstrate that IL-10 regulation prevents gluten-induced cytotoxic inflammatory IEL infiltration. In particular, IL-10 suppresses gluten-induced accumulation of a specialized population of cytotoxic CD4⁺CD8αα⁺ IEL (CD4⁺ CTL) expressing Tbx21, Ifng, and Il21, and a disparate non-cytolytic CD4⁺CD8α^- IEL population expressing Il17a, Il21, and Il10. Concomitantly, IL-10 suppresses gluten-dependent small intestinal epithelial hyperproliferation and upregulation of stress-induced molecules on epithelial cells. Remarkably, frequencies of granzyme B⁺CD4⁺CD8α⁺ IEL are increased in pediatric celiac disease patient biopsies. These findings demonstrate that IL-10 is pivotal to prevent gluten-induced small intestinal inflammation and epithelial damage, and imply that CD4⁺ CTL are potential new players into these processes.

Macrophage-mediated gliadin degradation and concomitant IL-27 production drive IL-10- and IFN-γ-secreting Tr1-like-cell differentiation in a murine model for gluten tolerance

Celiac disease is caused by inflammatory T-cell responses against the insoluble dietary protein gliadin. We have shown that, in humanized mice, oral tolerance to deamidated chymotrypsin-digested gliadin (CT-TG2-gliadin) is driven by tolerogenic interferon (IFN)-γ- and interleukin (IL)-10-secreting type 1 regulatory T-like cells (Tr1-like cells) generated in the spleen but not in the mesenteric lymph nodes. We aimed to uncover the mechanisms underlying gliadin-specific Tr1-like-cell differentiation and hypothesized that proteolytic gliadin degradation by splenic macrophages is a decisive step in this process. In vivo depletion of macrophages caused reduced differentiation of splenic IFN-γ- and IL-10-producing Tr1-like cells after CT-TG2-gliadin but not gliadin peptide feed. Splenic macrophages, rather than dendritic cells, constitutively expressed increased mRNA levels of the endopeptidase Cathepsin D; macrophage depletion significantly reduced splenic Cathepsin D expression in vivo and Cathepsin D efficiently degraded recombinant γ-gliadin in vitro. In response to CT-TG2-gliadin uptake, macrophages enhanced the expression of Il27p28, a cytokine that favored differentiation of gliadin-specific Tr1-like cells in vitro, and was previously reported to increase Cathepsin D activity. Conversely, IL-27 neutralization in vivo inhibited splenic IFN-γ- and IL-10-secreting Tr1-like-cell differentiation after CT-TG2-gliadin feed. Our data infer that endopeptidase mediated gliadin degradation by macrophages and concomitant IL-27 production drive differentiation of splenic gliadin-specific Tr1-like cells.

Rotavirus enterotoxin NSP4 binds to the extracellular matrix proteins laminin-beta3 and fibronectin

Rotavirus is the most important cause of viral gastroenteritis and dehydrating diarrhea in young children. Rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) is an enterotoxin that was identified as an important agent in symptomatic rotavirus infection. To identify cellular proteins that interact with NSP4, a two-hybrid technique with Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used. NSP4 cDNA, derived from the human rotavirus strain Wa, was cloned into the yeast shuttle vector pGBKT7. An intestinal cDNA library derived from Caco-2 cells cloned into the yeast shuttle vector pGAD10 was screened for proteins that interact with NSP4. Protein interactions were confirmed in vivo by coimmunoprecipitation and immunohistochemical colocalization. After two-hybrid library screening, we repeatedly isolated cDNAs encoding the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein laminin-beta3 (amino acids [aa] 274 to 878) and a cDNA encoding the ECM protein fibronectin (aa 1755 to 1884). Using deletion mutants of NSP4, we mapped the region of interaction with the ECM proteins between aa 87 and 145. Deletion analysis of laminin-beta3 indicated that the region comprising aa 726 to 875 of laminin-beta3 interacts with NSP4. Interaction of NSP4 with either laminin-beta3 or fibronectin was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation. NSP4 was present in infected enterocytes and in the basement membrane (BM) of infected neonatal mice and colocalized with laminin-beta3, indicating a physiological interaction. In conclusion, two-hybrid screening with NSP4 yielded two potential target proteins, laminin-beta3 and fibronectin, interacting with the enterotoxin NSP4. The release of NSP4 from the basal side of infected epithelial cells and the subsequent binding to ECM proteins localized at the BM may signify a new mechanism by which rotavirus disease is established.