Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 135, Issue 2, August 2008, Pages 552-567.e2
Gastroenterology

Basic—Alimentary Tract
TL1A (TNFSF15) Regulates the Development of Chronic Colitis by Modulating Both T-Helper 1 and T-Helper 17 Activation

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2008.04.037Get rights and content

Background & Aims: TL1A is a tumor necrosis factor–like molecule that mediates a strong costimulation of T-helper (TH) 1 cells. Expression of TL1A is increased in the mucosa of Crohn's disease patients and murine models of ileitis. The aim of this study was to determine the possible role of TL1A in chronic intestinal inflammation. Methods:We used dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced chronic colitis to investigate the effects of TL1A on the development of colitis. The cytokine profile in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) was measured. Neutralizing anti-TL1A antibodies were injected intraperitoneally into DSS-induced chronic colitis and G protein αi2−/− T-cell transfer colitis models. Severity of colitis was evaluated by body weight, colon length, histology, and cytokine production. Results:DSS-induced chronic colitis was characterized by the infiltration of CD4+ T cells. TL1A, death receptor 3, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-17 were increased significantly in GALT of DSS-treated mice. TL1A up-regulated both IFN-γ production from TH1 cells and IL-17 production from TH17 cells in GALT CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, IFN-γ and IL-17 production from CD4+ T cells, induced by IL-12 and IL-23 respectively, was enhanced synergistically by combination with TL1A. Anti-TL1A antibody prevented chronic colitis and attenuated established colitis by down-regulation of both TH1 and TH17 activation. Conclusions:Our results reveal that TL1A is an important modulator in the development of chronic mucosal inflammation by enhancing TH1 and TH17 effector functions. The central role of TL1A represents an attractive, novel therapeutic target for the treatment of Crohn's disease patients.

Section snippets

Mice

C57BL/6 mice were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). Mice were maintained under specific pathogen-free conditions in the Animal Care Facility at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Gαi2−/− (129/Sv background) mice were housed at the University of California, Los Angeles Animal Care Facility. RAG2−/− mice (129/Sv background) were obtained from the University of California, Los Angeles Department of Radiation Oncology or purchased from Taconic Farms (Germantown, NY). Mice used in

Characterization of DSS-Induced Chronic Colitis

DSS-induced acute colitis has been known as a T-cell–independent model.20 However, in chronic colitis induced by multiple cycles or in the recovery phase of DSS, adaptive immunity plays an important role in the disease process.21, 22 Chronic colitis was induced by administration of 4 cycles of 3% DSS drinking water to C57BL/6 mice. Loss of body weight was first observed at day 5. Maximum weight loss was seen at day 12 and mice regained body weight after 2 cycles of DSS (Figure 1A). Mice were

Discussion

This study shows that TL1A plays a causal role in the development and perpetuation of T-cell–mediated chronic colitis by enhancing both IFN-γ and IL-17 production from mucosal CD4+ T cells. TL1A and DR3 were up-regulated significantly in the intestine of DSS-treated mice, which confirms previous studies in human CD and murine ileitis.9, 11 We and others also have shown that TL1A was expressed on monocytes and CD11chigh major histocompatibility complex class II+ DCs and transmembrane DR3 was

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    Supported by US National Institutes of Health grants R01 DK056328 (S.R.T.) and DK046763 (S.R.T., J.B.).

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