The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: multitasking in the immune system.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), for many years almost exclusively studied by the pharmacology/toxicology field for its role in mediating the toxicity of xenobiotics such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), has more recently attracted the attention of immunologists. The evolutionary conservation of this transcription factor and its widespread expression in the immune system point to important physiological functions that are slowly being unraveled. In particular, the emphasis is now shifting from the role of AhR in the xenobiotic pathway toward its mode of action in response to physiological ligands. In this article, we review the current understanding of the molecular interactions and functions of AhR in the immune system in steady state and in the presence of infection and inflammation, with a focus on barrier organs such as the skin, the gut, and the lung.

Plasticity of Th17 cells in Peyer's patches is responsible for the induction of T cell-dependent IgA responses.

Intestinal Peyer's patches are essential lymphoid organs for the generation of T cell-dependent immunoglobulin A (IgA) for gut homeostasis. Through the use of interleukin 17 (IL-17) fate-reporter mice, we found here that endogenous cells of the TH17 subset of helper T cells in lymphoid organs of naive mice 'preferentially' homed to the intestines and were maintained independently of IL-23. In Peyer's patches, such TH17 cells acquired a follicular helper T cell (TFH cell) phenotype and induced the development of IgA-producing germinal center B cells. Mice deficient in TH17 cells failed to generate antigen-specific IgA responses, which provides evidence that TH17 cells are the crucial subset required for the production of high-affinity T cell-dependent IgA.

Fate mapping of IL-17-producing T cells in inflammatory responses.

Here we describe a reporter mouse strain designed to map the fate of cells that have activated interleukin 17A (IL-17A). We found that IL-17-producing helper T cells (T(H)17 cells) had distinct plasticity in different inflammatory settings. Chronic inflammatory conditions in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) caused a switch to alternative cytokines in T(H)17 cells, whereas acute cutaneous infection with Candida albicans did not result in the deviation of T(H)17 cells to the production of alternative cytokines, although IL-17A production was shut off in the course of the infection. During the development of EAE, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and other proinflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord were produced almost exclusively by cells that had produced IL-17 before their conversion by IL-23 ('ex-T(H)17 cells'). Thus, this model allows the actual functional fate of effector T cells to be related to T(H)17 developmental origin regardless of IL-17 expression.

Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor dampens the severity of inflammatory skin conditions.

Environmental stimuli are known to contribute to psoriasis pathogenesis and that of other autoimmune diseases, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we show that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor that senses environmental stimuli, modulates pathology in psoriasis. AhR-activating ligands reduced inflammation in the lesional skin of psoriasis patients, whereas AhR antagonists increased inflammation. Similarly, AhR signaling via the endogenous ligand FICZ reduced the inflammatory response in the imiquimod-induced model of skin inflammation and AhR-deficient mice exhibited a substantial exacerbation of the disease, compared to AhR-sufficient controls. Nonhematopoietic cells, in particular keratinocytes, were responsible for this hyperinflammatory response, which involved upregulation of AP-1 family members of transcription factors. Thus, our data suggest a critical role for AhR in the regulation of inflammatory responses and open the possibility for novel therapeutic strategies in chronic inflammatory disorders.

IL-22 fate reporter reveals origin and control of IL-22 production in homeostasis and infection.

IL-22 is a cytokine that regulates tissue homeostasis at barrier surfaces. A variety of IL-22-producing cell types is known, but identification on the single-cell level remains difficult. Therefore, we generated a fate reporter mouse that would allow the identification of IL-22-producing cells and their fate mapping in vivo. To trace IL-22-expressing cells, a sequence encoding Cre recombinase was cloned into the Il22 locus, and IL22(Cre) mice were crossed with reporter mice expressing enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (eYFP) under control of the endogenous Rosa26 promoter. In IL22(Cre)R26R(eYFP) mice, the fluorescent reporter permanently labels cells that have switched on Il22 expression, irrespective of cytokine production. Despite a degree of underreporting, eYFP expression was detectable in nonimmune mice and restricted to group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) in the gut and γδ T cells in skin or lung. Upon skin challenge with imiquimod, eYFP(+) γδ and CD4 T cells expanded in the skin. Infection with Citrobacter rodentium initially was controlled by ILC3, followed by expansion of eYFP(+) CD4 T cells, which were induced in innate lymphoid follicles in the colon. No eYFP expression was detected in small intestinal Th17 cells, and they did not expand in the immune response. Colonic eYFP(+) CD4 T cells exhibited plasticity during infection with expression of additional cytokines, in contrast to ILC3, which remained largely stable. Single-cell quantitative PCR analysis of eYFP(+) CD4 T cells confirmed their heterogeneity, suggesting that IL-22 expression is not confined to particular subsets or a dedicated Th22 subset.

The transcription factor E4BP4 is not required for extramedullary pathways of NK cell development.

NK cells contribute to antitumor and antiviral immunosurveillance. Their development in the bone marrow (BM) requires the transcription factor E4BP4/NFIL3, but requirements in other organs are less well defined. In this study, we show that CD3(-)NK1.1(+)NKp46(+)CD122(+) NK cells of immature phenotype and expressing low eomesodermin levels are found in thymus, spleen, and liver of E4BP4-deficient mice, whereas numbers of mature, eomesodermin(high) conventional NK cells are drastically reduced. E4BP4-deficient CD44(+)CD25(-) double-negative 1 thymocytes efficiently develop in vitro into NK cells with kinetics, phenotype, and functionality similar to wild-type controls, whereas no NK cells develop from E4BP4-deficient BM precursors. In E4BP4/Rag-1 double-deficient (DKO) mice, NK cells resembling those in Rag-1-deficient controls are found in similar numbers in the thymus and liver. However, NK precursors are reduced in DKO BM, and no NK cells develop from DKO BM progenitors in vitro. DKO thymocyte precursors readily develop into NK cells, but DKO BM transfers into nude recipients and NK cells in E4BP4/Rag-1/IL-7 triple-KO mice indicated thymus-independent NK cell development. In the presence of T cells or E4BP4-sufficient NK cells, DKO NK cells have a selective disadvantage, and thymic and hepatic DKO NK cells show reduced survival when adoptively transferred into lymphopenic hosts. This correlates with higher apoptosis rates and lower responsiveness to IL-15 in vitro. In conclusion, we demonstrate E4BP4-independent development of NK cells of immature phenotype, reduced fitness, short t1/2, and potential extramedullary origin. Our data identify E4BP4-independent NK cell developmental pathways and a role for E4BP4 in NK cell homeostasis.

Regulation and function of innate and adaptive interleukin-17-producing cells.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17)-mediated immune responses play a crucial role in the mucosal host defence against microbial and fungal pathogens. However, the chronic activation of IL-17-producing T helper cells can cause autoimmune disease. In addition, recent studies have highlighted key roles of innate cell-mediated IL-17 responses in various inflammatory settings. Besides inflammation, there have also been intriguing findings regarding the involvement of IL-17 responses in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and tumour formation. Here, we discuss the latest discoveries in regulation and function of innate and adaptive IL-17-producing cells.

Cutting edge: Intrathymic differentiation of adaptive Foxp3+ regulatory T cells upon peripheral proinflammatory immunization.

Thymocytes differentiate into CD4(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (T(R)) upon interaction between their TCR and peptide-MHC II complexes locally expressed in the thymus. Conversion of naive CD4(+) T cells into T(R) can additionally take place in the periphery under noninflammatory conditions of Ag encounter. In this study, making use of TCR transgenic models naturally devoid of Foxp3(+) cells, we report de novo generation of T(R) upon a single footpad injection of Ag mixed with a classic proinflammatory adjuvant. Abrupt T(R) differentiation upon immunization occurred intrathymically and was essential for robust tolerance induction in a mouse model of spontaneous encephalomyelitis. This phenomenon could be attributed to a specific feature of thymocytes, which, in contrast to mature peripheral CD4(+) T cells, were insensitive to the inhibitory effects of IL-6 on the induction of Foxp3 expression. Our findings uncover a pathway for T(R) generation with major implications for immunity and tolerance induction.

Natural Treg cells spontaneously differentiate into pathogenic helper cells in lymphopenic conditions.

Induction of Forkhead-box p3 (Foxp3) expression in developing T cells upon peptide-MHC encountering has been proposed to define a lineage of committed Treg cells. However, sustained expression of Foxp3 is required for Treg function and what maintains Foxp3 expression in peripheral Treg remains obscure. To address this issue, we monitored natural Treg phenotype and function upon adoptive transfer into lymphocyte-deficient mice. We first show that about 50% of Foxp3-GFP(+) Treg isolated from Foxp3(gfp) KI animals loose Foxp3 expression in severe lymphopenic conditions. We next evidence that the cytokine IL-2, either produced by co-transferred conventional T cells or administrated i.v. prevents Foxp3 downregulation. Moreover, we document that Treg that lost Foxp3 expression upon adoptive transfer produce IL-2 are not suppressive and promote tissue infiltration and damage upon secondary transfer into alymphoid mice. Our findings that Treg convert into pathogenic Th cells in absence of IL-2 provide new clues to the success of Treg-based immune therapies.

CD8 T Cells and IFN-γ emerge as critical players for psoriasis in a novel model of mouse psoriasiform skin inflammation.

A pathogenic crosstalk between epithelial and immune cells underpins the aberrant immune and epidermal responses seen in psoriasis. Data from a novel mouse model of psoriasiform skin inflammation not only highlight the importance of the interplay between keratinocytes, targets of genetic manipulation, and T cells as the major effector cells, but also reveal a critical role for CD8 T cells and IFN-γ in disease initiation.

Differential influences of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor on Th17 mediated responses in vitro and in vivo.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been attributed with anti-inflammatory effects in the development of pathological immune responses leading to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) via the induction of regulatory T cells. In agreement with previously published findings, we find that TCDD administration confers protection from EAE, however, this immuno-modulatory effect was not the consequence of de novo Treg generation, but the inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation. Systemic application of FICZ at the time of immunization also reduced EAE pathology albeit to a lesser degree than TCDD. In vitro Th17 differentiation in the presence of AhR agonists, including TCDD, promoted IL-17 and IL-22 expression, but did not induce Treg differentiation. AhR affinity influenced the amounts of IL-17 and IL-22 protein that was secreted by Th17 cells, but did not seem to affect susceptibility to EAE in vivo. Making use of conditional AhR-deficient mice, we show that the anti-inflammatory effect of TCDD depends on AhR activation in both T cells and dendritic cells, further emphasising the ability of TCDD to interfere with T effector cell differentiation in vivo. The dichotomy between the in vivo and in vitro effects of AhR reveals the complexity of the AhR pathway, which has the capacity of affecting different AhR-expressing cell types involved in mounting immune responses, thus participating in defining their outcome.