Monday, 5 December 2011: 09:00 - 09:25
Costa Maya (Cancún Center)
Learning Objectives:
IL-33, a member of the IL-1-related cytokines, is considered to be a pro-allergic cytokine that is especially involved in Th2-type immune responses. Moreover, like IL-1a, IL-33 has been suggested to act as an “alarmin” that amplifies immune responses during tissue injury. In contrast to IL-1, however, the precise roles of IL-33 in those settings are poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the roles of IL-33 in allergic disorders using IL-33-deficient mice. We found that IL-33 was essential for manifestation of T cell-independent protease allergen-induced airway inflammation as well as OVA-induced allergic topical airway inflammation, without affecting acquisition of antigen-specific memory T cells. Thus, IL-33 is a crucial amplifier of innate rather than acquired immune responses.
IL-33, a member of the IL-1-related cytokines, is considered to be a pro-allergic cytokine that is especially involved in Th2-type immune responses. Moreover, like IL-1a, IL-33 has been suggested to act as an “alarmin” that amplifies immune responses during tissue injury. In contrast to IL-1, however, the precise roles of IL-33 in those settings are poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the roles of IL-33 in allergic disorders using IL-33-deficient mice. We found that IL-33 was essential for manifestation of T cell-independent protease allergen-induced airway inflammation as well as OVA-induced allergic topical airway inflammation, without affecting acquisition of antigen-specific memory T cells. Thus, IL-33 is a crucial amplifier of innate rather than acquired immune responses.