Interleukin-28B dampens airway inflammation through up-regulation of natural killer cell-derived IFN-γ

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 15;7(1):3556. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03856-w.

Abstract

Interleukin-28A (IL-28A) modulates CD11c+ dendritic cell (DC) function and promotes type 1T helper (Th1) differentiation, thus suppressing allergic airway diseases. However, the function of the IL-28A isoform IL-28B in these diseases remains largely unknown. In this study, we revealed a novel role of IL-28B in inducing type 1 immunity and protecting against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma in mice. IL-28B overexpression in wild-type mice promoted natural killer (NK) cell polarization in the lung, leading to the increased number of interferon (IFN)-γ-producing NK1 cells as well as Th1 differentiation. Importantly, IL-28B overexpression had no protective effect on OVA-induced asthma in IFN-γ-knockout (IFN-γ-/-) mice. These results demonstrate that IL-28B ameliorates experimental allergic asthma via enhancing NK cell polarization, which might be useful for prevention and treatment of allergic asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines / genetics*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Immunoglobulin E / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / pathology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / etiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • interferon-lambda protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Interferon-gamma