The Pro-Th1 cytokine IL-12 enhances IL-4 production by invariant NKT cells: relevance for T cell-mediated hepatitis.
J Immunol
; 178(9): 5435-42, 2007 May 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17442924
IL-12 is essential for invariant NKT (iNKT) cells because it can maintain a functionally active population and promote a cytokine profile that is assumed to be mainly of the pro-Th1 type. We used the murine concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis model, in which iNKT cells, IL-12, IL-4, and IFN-gamma are equally requisite, to reevaluate this issue. We demonstrate that IL-12 interacts directly with iNKT cells, contributes to their recruitment to the liver, and enhances their IL-4 production, which is essential for disease onset. IL-12-deficient mice were less susceptible to experimental hepatitis and their iNKT cells produced less IL-4 than their wild-type counterpart. A normal response could be restored by IL-12 injection, revealing its importance as endogenous mediator. In accordance with this observation, we found that iNKT cells expressed the IL-12R constitutively, in contrast to conventional T cells. Furthermore, the physiological relevance of our data is supported by the lower susceptibility to disease induction of NOD mice, known for their inherent functional and numerical abnormalities of iNKT cells associated with decreased iNKT cell-derived IL-4 production and low IL-12 secretion. Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that IL-12 can enhance the immune response through increased IL-4 production by iNKT cells, underscoring once more the functional plasticity of this subset.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Células Asesinas Naturales
/
Subgrupos de Linfocitos T
/
Interleucina-4
/
Interleucina-12
/
Hepatitis Animal
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Immunol
Año:
2007
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos