NFATc2 and NFATc3 transcription factors play a crucial role in suppression of CD4+ T lymphocytes by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells

The phenotype of NFATc2(-/-) c3(-/-) (double knockout [DKO]) mice implies a disturbed regulation of T cell responses, evidenced by massive lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and autoaggressive phenomena. The population of CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells from DKO mice lacks regulatory capacity, except a small subpopulation that highly expresses glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related gene (GITR) and CD25. However, neither wild-type nor DKO CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (T reg cells) are able to suppress proliferation of DKO CD4(+) CD25(-) T helper cells. Therefore, combined NFATc2/c3 deficiency is compatible with the development of CD4(+) CD25(+) T reg cells but renders c…

p38 MAP kinase drives the expression of mast cell-derived IL-9 via activation of the transcription factor GATA-1.

Mast cells are able to produce a huge panel of mediators including the Th2-type cytokine IL-9, which is considered to be a key mediator for the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, but detailed information on the regulation of IL-9 transcription in mast cells has been scarce. Herein we provide evidence that the erythroid/myeloid transcription factor GATA-1, which is not expressed in Th2 cells, is a potent activator of IL-9 expression in murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Furthermore, in mast cells, but not in Th2 cells, production of IL-9 is sensitive to inhibition of p38 MAP kinase. As transactivation mediated by GATA-1 is also sensitive to inhibition of p38 MAP kinase, and GATA-1 i…

Mast cells are crucial for early inflammation, migration of Langerhans cells, and CTL responses following topical application of TLR7 ligand in mice.

Abstract Until recently, IgE-activated mast cells have been regarded merely as effector cells of adaptive immune responses, involved in allergic reactions and mucosal immunity to parasites. Herein, we report that murine dermal mast cells, activated by local administration of a cream containing the synthetic TLR7 ligand imiquimod, are essential to initiate an early inflammatory reaction. The mast-cell–derived cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β play an important role in this process. Furthermore, TLR7-activated mast cells are also able to promote the emigration of Langerhans cells, which partly depends on the expression of mast-cell–derived IL-1β. We have previously shown that TLR7 ligation enhances t…

Impaired Mast Cell-Driven Immune Responses in Mice Lacking the Transcription Factor NFATc2

Abstract The three calcium-dependent factors NFATc1, c2, and c3 are expressed in cells of the immune system and play pivotal roles in modulating cellular activation. With regard to NFATc2, it was reported that NFATc2-deficient mice display increased immune responses in several models for infection and allergy in vivo. This led to the assumption that NFATc2 is involved in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Using the synthetic TLR7 agonist imiquimod as an adjuvant in epicutaneous peptide immunization, we observed that both the inflammatory reaction and the peptide-specific CTL response are severely impaired in NFATc2-deficient mice. Detailed analyses revealed that early production of proi…

Specific and Redundant Roles for NFAT Transcription Factors in the Expression of Mast Cell-Derived Cytokines

Abstract By virtue of their ability to express a plethora of biologically highly active mediators, mast cells (MC) are involved in both adaptive and innate immune responses. MC-derived Th2-type cytokines are thought to act as local amplifiers of Th2 reactions, including chronic inflammatory disorders such as allergic asthma, whereas MC-derived TNF-α is a critical initiator of antimicrobial defense. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcription factors NFATc1 and NFATc2 are part of a MC-specific signaling network that regulates the expression of TNF-α and IL-13, whereas NFATc3 is dispensable. Primary murine bone marrow-derived MC from NFATc2−/− mice, activated by either ionomycin or I…

Zebrafish Reveals Different and Conserved Features of Vertebrate Neuroglobin Gene Structure, Expression Pattern, and Ligand Binding

Neuroglobin has been identified as a respiratory protein that is primarily expressed in the mammalian nervous system. Here we present the first detailed analysis of neuroglobin from a non-mammalian vertebrate, the zebrafish Danio rerio. The zebrafish neuroglobin gene reveals a mammalian-type exon-intron pattern in the coding region (B12.2, E11.0, and G7.0), plus an additional 5'-non-coding exon. Similar to the mammalian neuroglobin, the zebrafish protein displays a hexacoordinate deoxy-binding scheme. Flash photolysis kinetics show the competitive binding on the millisecond timescale of external ligands and the distal histidine, resulting in an oxygen affinity of 1 torr. Western blotting, i…

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate is a key component of regulatory T cell–mediated suppression

Naturally occurring regulatory T cells (T reg cells) are a thymus-derived subset of T cells, which are crucial for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance by controlling potentially autoreactive T cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this strictly cell contact–dependent process are still elusive. Here we show that naturally occurring T reg cells harbor high levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). This second messenger is known to be a potent inhibitor of proliferation and interleukin 2 synthesis in T cells. Upon coactivation with naturally occurring T reg cells the cAMP content of responder T cells is also strongly increased. Furthermore, we demonstrate that natur…

Advances in the understanding of mast cell function

Mast cells were formerly thought to contribute mainly to, sometimes even, fatal allergic reactions through the release of biologically highly active cytokines, chemokines, lipid mediators, proteases and biogenic amines. This potential harmful response is triggered by crosslinking of cell-bound IgE by the respective allergen. This review updates our current understanding of the emerging roles of mast cells with an emphasis on their relevance in protective host immunity. The activation of mast cells independently of Immunoglobulin E can lead to the initiation of fast inflammatory reactions, which were shown to be life-saving in murine models of bacterial infections. Besides their critical fun…

Synergistic activation of dendritic cells by combined Toll-like receptor ligation induces superior CTL responses in vivo.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are able to interact with pathogen-derived products and their signals induce the coordinated activation of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in these events. As the different TLRs are able to trigger MyD88/TRIF-dependent and -independent signaling pathways, we wondered if the simultaneous activation of these signaling cascades would synergize with respect to DC activation and induce superior cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity in vivo. We observed that indeed the combined activation of MyD88-dependent and -independent signaling induced by TLR7 and TLR3 ligands provoked a more rapid and more sustained bone marrow–der…

17. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop