Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates pancreatic IL-22 production and protects mice from acute pancreatitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

The type of immune response during development of acute pancreatitis (AP) determines disease severity. Pancreatic epithelial cells express the interleukin (IL)-22 receptor A1 (IL-22RA1). The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that regulates expression of IL-22. We investigated sources and role of IL-22 in the pancreas, along with the effects of AhR activation on IL-22 expression and AP progression in mice.

Methods

We analyzed the effects of recombinant IL-22, a monoclonal antibody against IL-22, and agonists and antagonists of AhR in mice with AP (induced with caerulein or a choline-deficient diet supplemented with DL-ethionine) and control mice. We also analyzed transgenic mice with AhR deficiency (AhR(d) and AhR(-/-

SUBMITTER: Xue J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3647696 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature