IL-21 induces IL-22 production in CD4+ T-cells

By A. Yeste, I. Mascanfroni, Meghan Nadeau, Evan J. Burns, A. Tukpah, A. Santiago, Chuan Wu, B. Patel, Deepak Kumar, F. Quintana. 2014

148 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Interleukin (IL)-22 produced by innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and CD4+ T cells plays an important role in host defence and mucosal homeostasis, thus it is important to investigate the mechanisms that regulate IL-22 production. We investigated the regulation IL-22 production by CD4+ T cells. Here we show that IL-21 triggers IL-22, but not IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells. STAT3, activated by IL-21, controls the epigenetic status of the il22 promoter and its interaction with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Moreover, IL-21 and AhR signalling in T cells control IL-22 production and the development of dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis in ILC-deficient mice. Thus, we have identified IL-21 as an inducer of IL-22 production in CD4+ T cells in vitro and in vivo. The cytokine interleukin-22 maintains the integrity of the colonic epithelium during inflammation. Here, the authors show that IL-21 regulates the production of IL-22 in T cells and this mechanism plays a protective role in a mouse model of colitis.

Subfields: Immunology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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In Immunology

1. Cristina Gutiérrez-Vázquez
2. F. Quintana

Citations in the corpus

• Regulation of the immune response by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (2018, background): “Additionally, a role for AhR in Th17 cell biology and the control of IL-22 production by T cells was also established (Quintana et al., 2008; Rutz et al., 2011; Veldhoen et al., 2008, 2009; Yeste et al., 2014).”