IL-22 is produced by activated T cells and signals through a receptor complex consisting of IL-22R1 and IL-10R2. The aim of this study was to analyze IL-22 receptor expression, signal transduction, and specific biological functions of this cytokine system in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). Expression studies were performed by RT-PCR. Signal transduction was analyzed by Western blot experiments, cell proliferation by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium assay and Fas-induced apoptosis by flow cytometry. IEC migration was studied in wounding assays. The IEC lines Caco-2, DLD-1, SW480, HCT116, and HT-29 express both IL-22 receptor subunits IL-22R1 and IL-10R2. Stimulation with TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and LPS significantly upregulated IL-22R1 without affecting IL-10R2 mRNA expression. IL-22 binding to its receptor complex activates STAT1/3, Akt, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK MAP kinases. IL-22 significantly increased cell proliferation (P = 0.002) and phosphatidylinsitol 3-kinase-dependent IEC cell migration (P < 0.00001) as well as mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IL-8, and human beta-defensin-2. IL-22 had no effect on Fas-induced apoptosis. IL-22 mRNA expression was increased in inflamed colonic lesions of patients with Crohn's disease and correlated highly with the IL-8 expression in these lesions (r = 0.840). Moreover, IL-22 expression was increased in murine dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. IEC express functional receptors for IL-22, which increases the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and promotes the innate immune response by increased defensin expression. Moreover, our data indicate intestinal barrier functions for this cytokine-promoting IEC migration, which suggests an important function in intestinal inflammation and wound healing. IL-22 is increased in active Crohn's disease and promotes proinflammatory gene expression and IEC migration.

Intestinal IL17F gene expression is increased in active CD. The IL17F p.His161Arg polymorphism is not associated with IBD susceptibility and has no epistatic interaction with CD-associated IL23R variants.

BackgroundThe IL23R gene has been identified as a susceptibility gene for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the North American population. The aim of our study was to test this association in a large German IBD cohort and to elucidate potential interactions with other IBD genes as well as phenotypic consequences of IL23R variants.MethodsGenomic DNA from 2670 Caucasian individuals including 833 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 456 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 1381 healthy unrelated controls was analyzed for 10 IL23R SNPs. Genotyping included the NOD2 variants p.Arg702Trp, p.Gly908Arg, and p.Leu1007fsX1008 and polymorphisms in SLC22A4/OCTN1 (1672 C→T) and SLC22A5/OCTN2 (–207 G→C).ResultsAll IL23R gene variants analyzed displayed highly significant associations with CD. The strongest association was found for the SNP rs1004819 [P = 1.92×10−11; OR 1.56; 95 % CI (1.37–1.78)]. 93.2% of the rs1004819 TT homozygous carriers as compared to 78% of CC wildtype carriers had ileal involvement [P = 0.004; OR 4.24; CI (1.46–12.34)]. The coding SNP rs11209026 (p.Arg381Gln) was protective for CD [P = 8.04×10−8; OR 0.43; CI (0.31–0.59)]. Similar, but weaker associations were found in UC. There was no evidence for epistasis between the IL23R gene and the CD susceptibility genes CARD15 and SLC22A4/5.Conclusion IL23R is an IBD susceptibility gene, but has no epistatic interaction with CARD15 and SLC22A4/5. rs1004819 is the major IL23R variant associated with CD in the German population, while the p.Arg381Gln IL23R variant is a protective marker for CD and UC.

The immune system of vertebrates is able to detect bacterial DNA based on the presence of unmethylated CpG motifs. We examined the therapeutic potential of oligodeoxynucleotides with CpG motifs (CpG ODN) in a colon carcinoma model in BALB/c mice. Tumors were induced by s.c. injection of syngeneic C26 cells or Renca kidney cancer cells as a control. Injection of CpG ODN alone or in combination with irradiated tumor cells did not protect mice against subsequent tumor challenge. In contrast, weekly injections of CpG ODN into the margin of already established tumors resulted in regression of tumors and complete cure of mice. The injection site was critical, since injection of CpG ODN at distant sites was not effective. Mice with two bilateral C26 tumors rejected both tumors upon peritumoral injection of one tumor, indicating the development of a systemic immune response. The tumor specificity of the immune response was demonstrated in mice bearing a C26 tumor and a Renca tumor at the same time. Mice that rejected a tumor upon peritumoral CpG treatment remained tumor free and were protected against rechallenge with the same tumor cells, but not with the other tumor, demonstrating long term memory. Tumor-specific CD8 T cells as well as innate effector cells contributed to the antitumor activity of treatment. In conclusion, peritumoral CpG ODN monotherapy elicits a strong CD8 T cell response and innate effector mechanisms that seem to act in concert to overcome unresponsiveness of the immune system toward a growing tumor.

Dendritic cells (DC) manipulated ex vivo can induce tumor immunity in experimental murine tumor models. To improve DC-based tumor vaccination, we studied whether DC maturation affects the T cell-activating potential in vitro and the induction of tumor immunity in vivo. Maturation of murine bone marrow-derived DC was induced by GM-CSF plus IL-4 alone or by further addition of TNF-α or a cytidine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG)-containing oligonucleotide (ODN-1826), which mimics the immunostimulatory effect of bacterial DNA. Flow cytometric analysis of costimulatory molecules and MHC class II showed that DC maturation was stimulated most by ODN-1826, whereas TNF-α had an intermediate effect. The extent of maturation correlated with the secretion of IL-12 and the induction of alloreactive T cell proliferation. In BALB/c mice, s.c. injection of colon carcinoma cells resulted in rapidly growing tumors. In this model, CpG-ODN-stimulated DC cocultured with irradiated tumor cells also induced prophylactic protection most effectively and were therapeutically effective when administered 3 days after tumor challenge. Thus, CpG-ODN-enhanced DC maturation may represent an efficient means to improve clinical tumor vaccination.