Interleukin-33 activates regulatory T cells to suppress innate γδ T cell responses in the lung

LD Faustino, JW Griffith, RA Rahimi, K Nepal… - Nature …, 2020 - nature.com
LD Faustino, JW Griffith, RA Rahimi, K Nepal, DL Hamilos, JL Cho, BD Medoff, JJ Moon…
Nature immunology, 2020nature.com
Abstract Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing the interleukin (IL)-33 receptor ST2
mediate tissue repair in response to IL-33. Whether Treg cells also respond to the alarmin IL-
33 to regulate specific aspects of the immune response is not known. Here we describe an
unexpected function of ST2+ Treg cells in suppressing the innate immune response in the
lung to environmental allergens without altering the adaptive immune response. Following
allergen exposure, ST2+ Treg cells were activated by IL-33 to suppress IL-17-producing γδ …
Abstract
Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing the interleukin (IL)-33 receptor ST2 mediate tissue repair in response to IL-33. Whether Treg cells also respond to the alarmin IL-33 to regulate specific aspects of the immune response is not known. Here we describe an unexpected function of ST2+ Treg cells in suppressing the innate immune response in the lung to environmental allergens without altering the adaptive immune response. Following allergen exposure, ST2+ Treg cells were activated by IL-33 to suppress IL-17-producing γδ T cells. ST2 signaling in Treg cells induced Ebi3, a component of the heterodimeric cytokine IL-35 that was required for Treg cell-mediated suppression of γδ T cells. This response resulted in fewer eosinophil-attracting chemokines and reduced eosinophil recruitment into the lung, which was beneficial to the host in reducing allergen-induced inflammation. Thus, we define a fundamental role for ST2+ Treg cells in the lung as a negative regulator of the early innate γδ T cell response to mucosal injury.
nature.com