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Neurath, M.F. et al.

Neurath, Weigmann, Finotto, Glickman, Nieuwenhuis, Iijima, Mizoguchi, Mizoguchi, Mudter, Galle, Bhan, Autschbach, Sullivan, Szabo, Glimcher, Blumberg,

The transcription factor T-bet regulates mucosal T cell activation in experimental colitis and Crohn's disease.

The balance between pro and antiinflammatory cytokines secreted by T cells regulates both the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In particular, the balance between interferon (IFN)-gamma/interleukin (IL)-4 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta activity controls chronic intestinal inflammation. However, the molecular pathways that evoke these responses are not well understood. Here, we describe a critical role for the transcription factor T-bet in controlling the mucosal cytokine balance and clinical disease. We studied the expression and function of T-bet in patients with IBD and in mucosal T cells in various T helper (Th)1- and Th2- mediated animal models of chronic intestinal inflammation by taking advantage of mice that lack T-bet and retroviral transduction techniques, respectively. Whereas retroviral transduction of T-bet in CD62L(+) CD4(+) T cells exacerbated colitis in reconstituted SCID mice, T-bet-deficient T cells failed to induce colitis in adoptive transfer experiments suggesting that overexpression of T-bet is essential and sufficient to promote Th1-mediated colitis in vivo. Furthermore, T-bet-deficient CD62L(-) CD4(+) T cells showed enhanced protective functions in Th1- mediated colitis and exhibited increased TGF-beta signaling suggesting that a T-bet driven pathway of T cell activation controls the intestinal balance between IFN-gamma/ IL-4 and TGF-beta responses and the development of chronic intestinal inflammation in T cell-mediated colitis. Furthermore, TGF-beta was found to suppress T-bet expression suggesting a reciprocal relationship between TGF-beta and T-bet in mucosal T cells. In summary, our data suggest a key regulatory role of T-bet in the pathogenesis of T cell-mediated colitis. Specific targeting of this pathway may be a promising novel approach for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease and other autoimmune diseases mediated by Th1 T lymphocytes.[1]

References

The transcription factor T-bet regulates mucosal T cell activation in experimental colitis and Crohn's disease. Neurath, M.F., Weigmann, B., Finotto, S., Glickman, J., Nieuwenhuis, E., Iijima, H., Mizoguchi, A., Mizoguchi, E., Mudter, J., Galle, P.R., Bhan, A., Autschbach, F., Sullivan, B.M., Szabo, S.J., Glimcher, L.H., Blumberg, R.S. J. Exp. Med. (2002) [Pubmed]

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