Interleukin-10 (IL-10), first recognized for its ability to inhibit activation and effector function of T cells, monocytes, and macrophages, is a multifunctional cytokine with diverse effects on most hemopoietic cell types. The principal routine function of IL-10 appears to be to limit and ultimately terminate inflammatory responses. In addition to these activities, IL-10 regulates growth and/or differentiation of B cells, NK cells, cytotoxic and helper T cells, mast cells, granulocytes, dendritic cells, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells. IL-10 plays a key role in differentiation and function of a newly appreciated type of T cell, the T regulatory cell, which may figure prominently in control of immune responses and tolerance in vivo. Uniquely among hemopoietic cytokines, IL-10 has closely related homologs in several virus genomes, which testify to its crucial role in regulating immune and inflammatory responses. This review highlights findings that have advanced our understanding of IL-10 and its receptor, as well as its in vivo function in health and disease.

Interleukin-10 and the interleukin-10 receptor.

This review is directed at understanding how neuronal death occurs in two distinct insults, global ischemia and focal ischemia. These are the two principal rodent models for human disease. Cell dea...

Ischemic Cell Death in Brain Neurons

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1

Eosinophils are pleiotropic multifunctional leukocytes involved in initiation and propagation of diverse inflammatory responses, as well as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, the biology of eosinophils is summarized, focusing on transcriptional regulation of eosinophil differentiation, characterization of the growing properties of eosinophil granule proteins, surface proteins and pleiotropic mediators, and molecular mechanisms of eosinophil degranulation. New views on the role of eosinophils in homeostatic function are examined, including developmental biology and innate and adaptive immunity (as well as their interaction with mast cells and T cells) and their proposed role in disease processes including infections, asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders. Finally, strategies for targeted therapeutic intervention in eosinophil-mediated mucosal diseases are conceptualized.

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.02958.x

Eosinophils: Biological Properties and Role in Health and Disease

NF-κB was first discovered and characterized 25 years ago as a key regulator of inducible gene expression in the immune system. Thus, it is not surprising that the clearest biological role of NF-κB is in the development and function of the immune system. Both innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the development and maintenance of the cells and tissues that comprise the immune system are, at multiple steps, under the control of the NF-κB family of transcription factors. Although this is a well-studied area of NF-κB research, new and significant findings continue to accumulate. This review will focus on these areas of recent progress while also providing a broad overview of the roles of NF-κB in mammalian immunobiology.

/pdf/nf-kb-in-immunobiology-1nh74f7kw0.pdf

NF-κB in immunobiology.

The cysteinyl (Cys) leukotrienes (LT)C(4), LTD(4), and LTE(4), are lipid mediators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. The human LTD(4) receptor (CysLT(1)R) was recently cloned and characterized. The present work was undertaken to study the potential modulation of CysLT(1)R expression by the Th2 cytokines IL-13 and IL-4. In this study, we report that IL-13 up-regulates CysLT(1)R mRNA levels, with consequently enhanced CysLT(1)R protein expression and function in human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. CysLT(1)R mRNA expression was augmented 2- to 5-fold following treatment with IL-13 and was due to enhanced transcriptional activity. The effect was observed after 4 h, was maximal by 8 h, and maintained at 24 h. IL-4, but not IFN-gamma, induced a similar pattern of CysLT(1)R up-regulation. Monocytes pretreated with IL-13 or IL-4 for 24 h showed enhanced CysLT(1)R protein expression, as assessed by flow cytometry using a polyclonal anti-CysLT(1)R Ab. They also showed enhanced responsiveness to LTD(4), but not to LTB(4), in terms of Ca(2+) mobilization, as well as augmented chemotactic activity. Our findings suggest a possible mechanism by which IL-13 and IL-4 can modulate CysLT(1)R expression on monocytes and macrophages, and consequently their responsiveness to LTD(4), and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and allergic diseases.

IL-13 and IL-4 up-regulate cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor expression in human monocytes and macrophages.

The cysteinyl leukotrienes, leukotriene (LT) C(4), LTD(4), and LTE(4), are lipid mediators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory processes, including asthma. The human LTD(4) receptor, CysLT(1)R, was recently cloned and characterized. We had previously shown that HL-60 cells differentiated toward the eosinophilic lineage (HL-60/eos) developed specific functional LTD(4) receptors. The present work was undertaken to study the potential modulation of CysLT(1)R expression in HL-60/eos by IL-5, an important regulator of eosinophil function. Here, we report that IL-5 rapidly up-regulates CysLT(1)R mRNA expression, with consequently enhanced CysLT(1)R protein expression and function in HL-60/eos. CysLT(1)R mRNA expression was augmented 2- to 15-fold following treatment with IL-5 (1-20 ng/ml). The effect was seen after 2 h, was maximal by 4 h, and maintained at 8 h. Although CysLT(1)R mRNA was constitutively expressed in undifferentiated HL-60 cells, its expression was not modulated by IL-5 in the absence of differentiation. Differentiated HL-60/eos cells pretreated with IL-5 (10 ng/ml) for 24 h showed enhanced CysLT(1)R expression on the cell surface, as assessed by flow cytometry using a polyclonal anti-CysLT(1)R Ab. They also showed enhanced responsiveness to LTD(4), but not to LTB(4) or platelet-activating factor, in terms of Ca(2+) mobilization, and augmented the chemotactic response to LTD(4). Our findings suggest a possible mechanism by which IL-5 can modulate eosinophil functions and particularly their responsiveness to LTD(4), and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma and allergic diseases.

IL-5 up-regulates cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor expression in HL-60 cells differentiated into eosinophils.

The chemokine receptor CCR5 has been found to play a key role in early infection with macrophage-tropic isolates of HIV-1 and CCR5 deficiency is associated with a relative resistance to HIV-1 infection. In this context, we studied the regulation of CCR5 gene expression by cytokines, and in particular, interleukin (IL)-10 in human monocytes. CCR5 mRNA was rapidly up-regulated by exposure of monocytes to graded concentrations of IL-10, with near maximal stimulation with 10 ng/ml. The effect was rapid, being detectable as early as 1 h and maximal between 2 and 4 h of treatment. Pretreatment of monocytes with actinomycin D prevented the IL-10-induced effect, suggesting a transcriptional mechanism for CCR5 up-regulation by IL-10. Protein expression of CCR5 was also enhanced by IL-10, as indicated by a 3-fold increase in anti-CCR5 antibody labeling of monocytes treated for 20 h with IL-10. Increased surface expression of CCR5 persisted at 48 h of treatment. Moreover, IL-10-treated monocytes responded with augmented intracellular Ca++ mobilization and enhanced (3–4-fold) chemotaxis in response to the CCR5 ligand MIP-1β (25 ng/ml). Taken together, our data indicate that IL-10 can modulate CCR5 expression and function. This can constitute a potentially important regulatory mechanism which can affect not only responses during inflammation, but also susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.

IL-10 up-regulates CCR5 gene expression in human monocytes.

Because cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cysLTs) are major protagonists in the pathophysiology of human asthma, and because neutrophils are involved in the more severe form of asthma, we studied the potential for leukotriene (LT) D4 to induce synthesis of the chemokine IL-8 through activation of the CysLT1 receptor. We found LTD4 to induce IL-8 gene expression in monocytic THP-1 cells and human dendritic cells with complete abrogation by selective CysLT1 antagonists. Human embryonic kidney–293 cells stably transfected with CysLT1 were used to better study the transcriptional regulation of the IL-8 promoter. Stimulation of the cells with graded concentrations of LTD4 resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent induction of IL-8 transcription and protein synthesis. Use of IL-8 promoter mutants with substitutions in their NF-κB, activator protein (AP)–1, and NF–IL-6 binding elements revealed a requirement for NF-κB and AP–1, but not NF–IL-6, in LTD4-induced activation of the IL-8 promoter. Overexpression of domin...

https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1165/rcmb.2005-0407OC

CysLT1 Receptor Engagement Induces Activator Protein-1– and NF-κB–Dependent IL-8 Expression

Immune and inflammatory responses involve a whole array of cells and cell products which interact and mutually regulate each other. Many of these interactions are mediated by cytokines acting through specific receptors. Furthermore, lipid mediators such as PAF and the arachidonic acid metabolites LTB4 and PGE2 are known to affect several of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the immune and inflammatory responses. In this paper, we review recent data from our laboratory illustrating the differential regulation of IL-6 and TNF alpha production and IL-2 receptor alpha and beta expression by these lipid mediators. We show that the regulation of these genes is both transcriptional and post-transcriptional, and that LT and PG can also be involved as second messengers in these regulatory processes.

Maryse Thivierge

Papers

IL-13 and IL-4 up-regulate cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor expression in human monocytes and macrophages.

IL-5 up-regulates cysteinyl leukotriene 1 receptor expression in HL-60 cells differentiated into eosinophils.

IL-10 up-regulates CCR5 gene expression in human monocytes.

CysLT1 Receptor Engagement Induces Activator Protein-1– and NF-κB–Dependent IL-8 Expression

Differential regulation of cytokine and cytokine receptor genes by PAF, LTB4 and PGE2.