Macrophages as IL-25/IL-33-responsive cells play an important role in the induction of type 2 immunity

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59441. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059441. Epub 2013 Mar 25.

Abstract

Type 2 immunity is essential for host protection against nematode infection but is detrimental in allergic inflammation or asthma. There is a major research focus on the effector molecules and specific cell types involved in the initiation of type 2 immunity. Recent work has implicated an important role of epithelial-derived cytokines, IL-25 and IL-33, acting on innate immune cells that are believed to be the initial sources of type 2 cytokines IL-4/IL-5/IL-13. The identities of the cell types that mediate the effects of IL-25/IL-33, however, remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrate that macrophages as IL-25/IL-33-responsive cells play an important role in inducing type 2 immunity using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Macrophages produced type 2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 in response to the stimulation of IL-25/IL-33 in vitro, or were the IL-13-producing cells in mice administrated with exogenous IL-33 or infected with Heligmosomoides bakeri. In addition, IL-33 induced alternative activation of macrophages primarily through autocrine IL-13 activating the IL-4Rα-STAT6 pathway. Moreover, depletion of macrophages attenuated the IL-25/IL-33-induced type 2 immunity in mice, while adoptive transfer of IL-33-activated macrophages into mice with a chronic Heligmosomoides bakeri infection induced worm expulsion accompanied by a potent type 2 protective immune response. Thus, macrophages represent a unique population of the innate immune cells pivotal to type 2 immunity and a potential therapeutic target in controlling type 2 immunity-mediated inflammatory pathologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Interleukin-13 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukins / administration & dosage
  • Interleukins / pharmacology*
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nematode Infections / immunology
  • Nematode Infections / prevention & control

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Il33 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukins
  • Mydgf protein, mouse