OX40 signaling favors the induction of TH9 cells and airway inflammation

X Xiao, S Balasubramanian, W Liu, X Chu, H Wang… - Nature …, 2012 - nature.com
X Xiao, S Balasubramanian, W Liu, X Chu, H Wang, EJ Taparowsky, YX Fu, Y Choi…
Nature immunology, 2012nature.com
The mechanisms that regulate the TH9 subset of helper T cells and diseases mediated by
TH9 cells remain poorly defined. Here we found that the costimulatory receptor OX40 was a
powerful inducer of TH9 cells in vitro and TH9 cell–dependent airway inflammation in vivo.
In polarizing conditions based on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), ligation of OX40
inhibited the production of induced regulatory T cells and the TH17 subset of helper T cells
and diverted CD4+ Foxp3− T cells to a TH9 phenotype. Mechanistically, OX40 activated the …
Abstract
The mechanisms that regulate the TH9 subset of helper T cells and diseases mediated by TH9 cells remain poorly defined. Here we found that the costimulatory receptor OX40 was a powerful inducer of TH9 cells in vitro and TH9 cell–dependent airway inflammation in vivo. In polarizing conditions based on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), ligation of OX40 inhibited the production of induced regulatory T cells and the TH17 subset of helper T cells and diverted CD4+Foxp3 T cells to a TH9 phenotype. Mechanistically, OX40 activated the ubiquitin ligase TRAF6, which triggered induction of the kinase NIK in CD4+ T cells and the noncanonical transcription factor NF-κB pathway; this subsequently led to the generation of TH9 cells. Thus, our study identifies a previously unknown mechanism for the induction of TH9 cells and may have important clinical implications in allergic inflammation.
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