Innate lymphoid cells support regulatory T cells in the intestine through interleukin-2.

ABSTRACT: Interleukin (IL)-2 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is necessary to prevent chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract^1-4. The protective effects of IL-2 involve the generation, maintenance and function of regulatory T (T_reg) cells^4-8, and the use of low doses of IL-2 has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease⁹. However, the cellular and molecular pathways that control the production of IL-2 in the context of intestinal health are undefined. Here we show, in a mouse model, that IL-2 is acutely required to maintain T_reg cells and immunological homeostasis throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, lineage-specific deletion of IL-2 in T cells did not reduce T_reg cell

SUBMITTER: Zhou L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6481643 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature