Early Stress-Response Gene REDD1 Controls Oxazolone-Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis.

REDD1 is an energy sensor and stress-induced mTOR inhibitor. Recently, its novel role in linking metabolism and inflammation/immune responses has emerged. In this study, we assessed the role of REDD1 in murine oxazolone-induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a T cell-dependent model with features of human ACD. A variety of immune indices, including edema, cellular infiltration, inflammatory gene expression, and glucocorticoid response, were compared in knockout (KO) and isogenic (C57BL/6 × 129)F1 wild-type mice after sensitization and subsequent ear challenge with oxazolone. Despite relatively normal thymic profiles and similar T cell populations in the lymph nodes of naive KO mice, early T cell expansion and cytokine production were profoundly impaired after sensitization. Surprisingly, higher steady-state populations of CD4 and CD8 T cells, as well as macrophages (CD45/Ly-6G/CD11b), dendritic cells (CD45/Ly-6G/CD11c), neutrophils (CD45/Ly-6G/CD11b), and innate lymphoid cells (CD45/Lineage/IL-7Ra/ST2/c-Kit), were observed in the ears of naive KO mice. Upon challenge, ear edema, T cell, macrophage, neutrophil, and dendritic cell infiltration into the ear was significantly reduced in KO animals. Accordingly, we observed significantly lower induction of IFN-γ, IL-4, and other cytokines as well as proinflammatory factors, including TSLP, IL-33, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, in challenged ears of KO mice. The response to glucocorticoid treatment was also diminished. Taken together, these data establish REDD1 as an essential immune modulator that influences both the initiation of ACD disease, by driving naive T cell activation, and the effector phase, by promoting immune cell trafficking in T cell-mediated skin inflammation.