Interleukin-37 Enhances the Suppressive Activity of Naturally Occurring CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 12:6:38955. doi: 10.1038/srep38955.

Abstract

Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the suppression of autoimmunity and can control the immune-mediated pathology during the early phase of sepsis. Our previous data showed that silencing interleukin-37 (IL-37) in human CD4+CD25+ Tregs obviously reduced the suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ Tregs. Here, we found that rhIL-37 stimulation markedly enhanced the suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ Tregs isolated from naive C57BL/6 J mice in the absence or presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatment with rhIL-37 could significantly upregulate the expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4 and forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3 (Foxp3) on CD4+CD25+ Tregs. Also, rhIL-37 stimulation promoted the production of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) but not IL-10 in the supernatants of cultured CD4+CD25+ Tregs. Pretreated CD4+CD25+ Tregs with rhIL-37 in the presence or absence of LPS were cocultured with CD4+CD25- T cells, ratio of IL-4/interferon-γ in the supernatants obviously increased in IL-37-stimulated groups. In addition, early administration of IL-37 significantly improved the survival rate of septic mice induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Taken together, we concluded that rhIL-37 enhances the suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ Tregs and might be a potential immunomodulator for the treatment of septic complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1 / administration & dosage
  • Interleukin-1 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sepsis / immunology
  • Sepsis / metabolism
  • Sepsis / prevention & control
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / physiology*

Substances

  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • IL37 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma