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Title: The pro-Th2 cytokine IL-33 directly interacts with invariant NKT and NK cells to induce IFN-gamma production. Author: Bourgeois E, Van LP, Samson M, Diem S, Barra A, Roga S, Gombert JM, Schneider E, Dy M, Gourdy P, Girard JP, Herbelin A. Journal: Eur J Immunol; 2009 Apr; 39(4):1046-55. PubMed ID: 19266498. Abstract: IL-33 has recently been identified as a cytokine endowed with pro-Th2 functions, raising the question of its effect on invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT), which are potent IL-4 producers. Here, we report a two-fold increase of iNKT-cell counts in spleen and liver after a 7-day treatment of mice with IL-33, which results from a direct effect, given that purified iNKT cells express the T1/ST2 receptor constitutively and respond to IL-33 by in vitro expansion and functional activation. Conversely to the expected pro-Th2 effect, IL-33 induced a preferential increase in IFN-gamma rather than IL-4 production upon TCR engagement that depended on endogenous IL-12. Moreover, in combination with the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12, IL-33 enhanced IFN-gamma production by both iNKT and NK cells. Taken together these data support the conclusion that IL-33 can contribute as a co-stimulatory factor to innate cellular immune responses.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]