HIF-1 in T cells ameliorated dextran sodium sulfate-induced murine colitis

J Leukoc Biol. 2012 Jun;91(6):901-9. doi: 10.1189/jlb.1011518. Epub 2012 Mar 27.

Abstract

HIF-1 is active in hypoxia, such as inflamed mucosa, and HIF-1 in epithelium has been reported to control inflamed mucosa in IBD models. Although T cells play an important role for pathogenesis of IBD, the function of HIF-1 in T cells remains to be elucidated. We aimed to clarify the function of HIF-1 in T cells in IBD with focus on the balance between Treg and Teff. Double immunohistochemistry of colonic mucosa in IBD patients showed that HIF-1 was expressed in T cells infiltrating the inflamed mucosa, suggesting that HIF-1 in T cells is involved in the pathogenesis. DSS administration to T cell-specific HIF-1α KO mice showed more severe colonic inflammation than control mice with the up-regulation of Th1 and Th17. Hypoxic stimulation in vitro increased Treg activation in WT T cells but not in HIF-1-deleted T cells. In contrast, hypoxic stimulation increased Th17 activation, and the degree was higher in HIF-1-deleted cells than in control cells. These results show that hypoxia controls intestinal inflammation by regulating cytokine balance in a HIF-1-dependent manner, suggesting that strengthening HIF-1 induction in T cells at the sites of inflammation might be a therapeutic strategy for IBD regulation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colitis / chemically induced*
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology*
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colitis / therapy
  • Colon / immunology*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Dextran Sulfate / toxicity*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
  • Dextran Sulfate