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Updated: May 5, 2026
Isolation and Characterization of Dendritic Cells and Macrophages from the Mouse Intestine
Published on: May 21, 2012
Interferon-λ mediates oral tolerance and inhibits antigen-specific, T-helper 2 cell-mediated inflammation in mouse
Shao-Heng He1, Xiao Chen, Chun-Hua Song
1Clinical Experimental Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. shoahenghe@hotmail.com
Background & Aims:
Oral tolerance is an important component of gastrointestinal homeostasis, but mechanisms of its development are not fully understood. Loss of oral tolerance occurs during food allergen-related inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Interferon (IFN)-λ regulates immunity, but its role in oral tolerance is not clear. We investigated the role and the mechanism of IFN-λ in the development of oral tolerance and its effect on antigen-induced, T-helper (Th)-2 cell-mediated inflammation in the intestine.
Methods:
Expression of IFN-λ and its receptor were analyzed by immunohistochemical, flow cytometric, or immunoblot analyses. Tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. A mouse model of antigen-induced, Th2 cell-mediated intestinal inflammation was used to examine the role of IFN-λ and T cells in oral tolerance in the intestine.
Results:
CD3+ cells expressed the IFN-λ receptor, which was up-regulated following antigen-specific or nonspecific activation. Interaction between IFN-λ and its receptor induced apoptosis of T cells and their subsequent phagocytosis by DCs. This led to the generation of tolerogenic DCs and T regulatory cells in vitro and in vivo. Passive transfer of IFN-λ-primed CD3+ cells inhibited Th2 cell-mediated inflammation in the intestine.
Conclusions:
IFN-λ is involved in development and maintenance of oral tolerance in the intestines of mice; it might be used to suppress antigen-specific Th2 cell-mediated inflammation in patients.
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