AHR Activation Is Protective against Colitis Driven by T Cells in Humanized Mice.

Cell Rep
Authors
Abstract

Existing therapies for inflammatory bowel disease that are based on broad suppression of inflammation result in variable clinical benefit and unwanted side effects. A potential therapeutic approach for promoting immune tolerance is the in vivo induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Here we report that activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor using the non-toxic agonist 2-(1'H-indole-3'-carbonyl)-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE) induces human Tregs in vitro that suppress effector T cells through a mechanism mediated by CD39 and Granzyme B. We then developed a humanized murine system whereby human CD4(+) T cells drive colitis upon exposure to 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid and assessed ITE as a potential therapeutic. ITE administration ameliorated colitis in humanized mice with increased CD39, Granzyme B, and IL10-secreting human Tregs. These results develop an experimental model to investigate human CD4(+) T responses in vivo and identify the non-toxic AHR agonist ITE as a potential therapy for promoting immune tolerance in the intestine.

Year of Publication
2016
Journal
Cell Rep
Volume
17
Issue
5
Pages
1318-1329
Date Published
2016 Oct 25
ISSN
2211-1247
DOI
10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.082
PubMed ID
27783946
PubMed Central ID
PMC5106873
Links
Grant list
K99 AI075285 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
K01 DK106311 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
P30 DK034854 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI093903 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
T32 DK007477 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R00 AI075285 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States