Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2010 Jun;30(6):381-8. doi: 10.1089/jir.2010.0047.
Type 1 regulatory (Tr1) cells have emerged as key players in the prevention of autoimmunity. They produce high levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 and confer protection against a wide panel of autoimmune diseases. However, the molecular pathways leading to their generation have long remained elusive. We have recently identified IL-27, a member of the IL-12 cytokine family, as a novel cytokine that induces Tr1 cells. Further analysis of IL-27-driven Tr1 cells have identified a critical role of the transcription factor avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma v-maf and of IL-21 in the generation of IL-27-induced Tr1 cells. Importantly, IL-27 also induces Tr1 cells in humans, suggesting that IL-27 administration may dampen tissue inflammation in humans as well. Here, we review the role of IL-27 in the generation of Tr1 cells and discuss its potential to alleviate autoimmune diseases.
1 型调节（Tr1）细胞已成为预防自身免疫的关键因素。它们产生高水平的免疫抑制细胞因子白细胞介素（IL）-10，并对广泛的自身免疫性疾病提供保护。然而，导致它们产生的分子途径长期以来一直难以捉摸。我们最近发现白细胞介素-27（IL-27），一种白细胞介素-12 细胞因子家族的成员，是一种诱导 Tr1 细胞的新型细胞因子。对 IL-27 驱动的 Tr1 细胞的进一步分析表明，转录因子 avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma v-maf 和白细胞介素-21 在 IL-27 诱导的 Tr1 细胞的产生中发挥关键作用。重要的是，IL-27 也能诱导人类的 Tr1 细胞，这表明 IL-27 的给药也可能减轻人类的组织炎症。在这里，我们回顾了 IL-27 在 Tr1 细胞产生中的作用，并讨论了其缓解自身免疫性疾病的潜力。
