IL-4 and IL-13 Negatively Regulate TNF-α- and IFN-γ-Induced β-Defensin Expression through STAT-6, Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS)-1, and SOCS-3

Clinical improvement of psoriasis induced by IL-4 treatment has been ascribed to changes in dermal inflammatory cells, such as activation of Th2 cells and tolerization of dendritic cells by suppressing IL-23 production. The pathologic epidermal alterations in psoriatic lesional skin include increased epidermal expression of IL-1β, IL-6, S100A7, and human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) and a downregulated expression of the epidermal transcription factor GATA3. Effects of IL-4 on the epidermal compartment of psoriasis lesions were not previously investigated. Therefore, we investigated whether IL-4 directly affects abovementioned psoriatic markers in the epidermal compartment. We cultured freshly isolated psoriatic epidermal cells, whole psoriatic and healthy skin biopsies, human keratinocytes and Langerhans cells with IL-4. The secretion of IL-1β and IL-6 by psoriatic epidermal cells was inhibited by IL-4 via transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms, respectively. In normal skin, IL-4 inhibited IL-1β- and IL-17A–induced hBD2 expression in vitro. In addition, IL-4 reduced the protein expression of hBD2 in psoriatic skin biopsies and induced phospho-STAT6 protein. Epidermal GATA3 mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated by IL-4 in epidermal cells and keratinocytes. Our data argue that IL-4 improves psoriasis not only via modification/induction of Th2 cells and type II dendritic cells, but also via direct inhibition of inflammatory cytokines in resident IL-4R–expressing epidermal cells and thereby alters the psoriatic skin phenotype toward a healthy skin phenotype.

“…Addition of IL-4 to a Th1 cytokine mixture led to inhibition of hBD2 in keratinocytes (33). This is in line with our findings and that of other investigators using IL-4 in KC (45,46).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

IL-4 Downregulates IL-1β and IL-6 and Induces GATA3 in Psoriatic Epidermal Cells: Route of Action of a Th2 Cytokine

Onderdijk

Baerveldt

Kurek

et al. 2015

“…STAT6 is a Th2-associated transcription factor that is activated through phosphorylation and that translocates into the nucleus during the activation of M2 macrophages (47). Previous studies have demonstrated that helminth infections or the treatment with their ES products led to significant M1-to-M2 macrophage transition, which is dependent on activation of the STAT6 signaling (25,48).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment with Recombinant Trichinella spiralis Cathepsin B–like Protein Ameliorates Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice by Promoting a Switch from M1 to M2 Macrophages

Liu

Wen

Zhan

et al. 2015

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, in which macrophages play a key role, can cause high morbidity and mortality. The switch from classically (M1) to alternatively (M2) activated macrophages, which is dependent on the activation of STAT6 signaling, has been shown to protect organs from I/R injuries. In the current study, the effects of recombinant Trichinella spiralis cathepsin B–like protein (rTsCPB) on intestinal I/R injury and the potential mechanism related to macrophage phenotypes switch were investigated. In a mouse I/R model undergoing 60-min intestinal ischemia followed by 2-h or 7-d reperfusion, we demonstrated that intestinal I/R caused significant intestinal injury and induced a switch from M2 to M1 macrophages, evidenced by a decrease in levels of M2 markers (arginase-1 and found in inflammatory zone protein), an increase in levels of M1 markers (inducible NO synthase and CCR7), and a decrease in the ratio of M2/M1 macrophages. RTsCPB reversed intestinal I/R-induced M2–M1 transition and promoted M1-M2 phenotype switch evidenced by a significant decrease in M1 markers, an increase in M2 markers, and the ratio of M2/M1 macrophages. Meanwhile, rTsCPB significantly ameliorated intestinal injury and improved intestinal function and survival rate of animals, accompanied by a decrease in neutrophil infiltration and an increase in cell proliferation in the intestine. However, a selective STAT6 inhibitor, AS1517499, reversed the protective effects of rTsCPB by inhibiting M1 to M2 transition. These findings suggest that intestinal I/R injury causes a switch from M2 to M1 macrophages and that rTsCPB ameliorates intestinal injury by promoting STAT6-dependent M1 to M2 transition.

“…Both GM-CSFR and IL-4R signal through JAK/STAT pathways several members of which are direct substrates for SHP-1. IL-4 signaling leads to activation of STAT-6, which is required for IL-4-mediated inhibition of TNF-a production (30,52). Furthermore, SHP-1 has been shown to directly inhibit STAT-6 phosphorylation (29,53), suggesting that this may be the mechanism by which SHP-1 inhibition augments IL-4-mediated TNF-a inhibition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Phosphatase Src Homology Region 2 Domain-Containing Phosphatase-1 Is an Intrinsic Central Regulator of Dendritic Cell Function

Ramachandran

Song

Lapteva

et al. 2011

Dendritic cells (DCs) initiate proinflammatory or regulatory T cell responses, depending on their activation state. Despite extensive knowledge of DC-activating signals, the understanding of DC inhibitory signals is relatively limited. We show that Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) is an important inhibitor of DC signaling, targeting multiple activation pathways. Downstream of TLR4, SHP-1 showed increased interaction with several proteins including IL-1R–associated kinase-4, and modulated LPS signaling by inhibiting NF-κB, AP-1, ERK, and JNK activity, while enhancing p38 activity. In addition, SHP-1 inhibited prosurvival signaling through AKT activation. Furthermore, SHP-1 inhibited CCR7 protein expression. Inhibiting SHP-1 in DCs enhanced proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-1β production, promoted survival, and increased DC migration to draining lymph nodes. Administration of SHP-1–inhibited DCs in vivo induced expansion of Ag-specific cytotoxic T cells and inhibited Foxp3+ regulatory T cell induction, resulting in an enhanced immune response against pre-established mouse melanoma and prostate tumors. Taken together, these data demonstrate that SHP-1 is an intrinsic global regulator of DC function, controlling many facets of T cell-mediated immune responses.