A number of recent studies testify that calcitriol alone or in combination with corticosteroids exerts strong immune modulatory activity. As a new approach, we evaluated the protolerogenic potential of calcitriol and dexamethasone in acute T helper (Th)1-mediated colitis in mice. A rectal enema of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) (100 mg/kg) was applied to BALB/c mice. Calcitriol and/or dexamethasone were administered i.p. from days 0 to 3 or 3 to 5 following the instillation of the haptenating agent. Assessment of colitis severity was performed daily. Colon tissue was analyzed macroscopically and microscopically, and myeloperoxidase activity, as well as cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor-␣, interferon-␥, interleukin (IL)-12p70, IL-1␤, IL-10, IL-4] were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, T-bet, GATA family of transcription factors 3, a Th2 master regulator (GATA3), Foxp3, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4), IL-23p19 and IL-17 expression by immunoblot analysis. The combination of the steroids most effectively reduced the clinical and histopathologic severity of TNBS colitis. Th1-related parameters were down-regulated, whereas Th2 markers like IL-4 and GATA3 were up-regulated. Apart from known steroid effects, calcitriol in particular promoted regulatory T cell profiles as indicated by a marked increase of IL-10, TGF␤, FoxP3, and CTLA4. Furthermore, analysis of dendritic cell mediators responsible for a proinflammatory differentiation of T cells revealed a significant reduction of IL-12p70 and IL23p19 as well as IL-6 and IL-17. Thus, our data support a rationale for a steroid-sparing, clinical application of calcitriol derivatives in inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore they suggest that early markers of inflammatory dendritic cell and Th17 differentiation qualify as new target molecules for both calcitriol and highly selective immune-modulating vitamin D analogs.Calcitriol has been identified in a number of studies as a prominent negative regulator of T helper (Th1)-type immune responses, whereas Th2 responses are not affected or even augmented as indicated by an induction of T1/ST2 (Schmitz et al., 2005;Wang et al., 2005). Although these effects have been preferentially explained by direct effects on lymphocytes, subsequent studies clearly supported a role of calcitriol in modulating monocyte differentiation or dendritic cell (DC) maturation (Griffin et al., 2003). Calcitriol clearly reduced the transition of the innate immune stimulation to an adaptive inflammatory immune response by interfering with signal transducers and activators of transcription, interferon regulatory factor 1/4, and possibly with the molecular elements involved in cross-presentation (Penna and Adorini, 2000;Muthian et al., 2006). With respect to myeloid DC development, the phenotype of calcitriol-conditioned DC reflects an immature status with poor capacity to induce antigen-specific T cell proliferation and a tendency to promote tolerance in vivo (Mellman and Steinman, 2001).The immunoregu...

Subimmunogenic vaccination with an agonist mimetope of insulin converts naive T cells into regulatory T cells and prevents type 1 diabetes in NOD mice.

Following the present concepts, the synthetic sphingosine analog of myriocin FTY720 alters migration and homing of lymphocytes via sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors. However, several studies indicate that the immunosuppressive properties of FTY720 may alternatively be due to tolerogenic activities via modulation of dendritic cell differentiation or based on direct effects on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg). As Treg play an important role for the cure of inflammatory colitis, we used the Th1-mediated 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis model to address the therapeutic potential of FTY720 in vivo. A rectal enema of TNBS was given to BALB/c mice. FTY720 was administered i.p. from days 0 to 3 or 3 to 5. FTY720 substantially reduced all clinical, histopathologic, macroscopic, and microscopic parameters of colitis analyzed. The therapeutic effects of FTY720 were associated with a down-regulation of IL-12p70 and subsequent Th1 cytokines. Importantly, FTY720 treatment resulted in a prominent up-regulation of FoxP3, IL-10, TGFβ, and CTLA4. Supporting the hypothesis that FTY720 directly affects functional activity of CD4+CD25+ Treg, we measured a significant increase of CD25 and FoxP3 expression in isolated lamina propria CD4+ T cells of FTY720-treated mice. The impact of FTY720 on Treg induction was further confirmed by concomitant in vivo blockade of CTLA4 or IL-10R which significantly abrogated its therapeutic activity. In conclusion, our data provide clear evidence that in addition to its well-established effects on migration FTY720 leads to a specific down-regulation of proinflammatory signals while simultaneously inducing functional activity of CD4+CD25+ Treg. Thus, FTY720 may offer a promising new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IBD.