Abstract
Statins, best known for their lipid-lowering actions, also possess immunomodulatory properties. Recent studies have shown a Th2-biasing effect of statins, although the underlying mechanism has not been identified. In this study, we investigated whether simvastatin can exercise a Th2-promoting effect through modulation of function of dendritic cells (DCs) without direct interaction with CD4+ T cells. Exposure of DCs to simvastatin induced the differentiation of a distinct subset of DCs characterized by a high expression of B220. These simvastatin-conditioned DCs up-regulated GATA-3 expression and down-regulated T-bet expression in cocultured CD4+ T cells in the absence of additional simvastatin added to the coculture. The Th2-biased transcription factor profile induced by simvastatin-treated DCs also was accompanied by increased Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and decreased Th1 (IFN-gamma) cytokine secretion from the T cells. The Th2-promoting effect of simvastatin was found to depend on the chitinase family member Ym1, known to be a lectin. Anti-Ym1 antibody abolished the Th2-promoting effect of simvastatin-treated DCs. Also, simvastatin was unable to augment Ym1 expression in DCs developed from STAT6-/- or IL-4R alpha-/- mice. Thus, modulation of Ym1 production by DCs identifies a previously undescribed mechanism of Th2 polarization by statin.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7777-7782 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
Volume | 103 |
Issue number | 20 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Antigens, CD45
- Bone Marrow Cells
- Cell Shape
- Cells, Cultured
- Coculture Techniques
- Dendritic Cells
- GATA3 Transcription Factor
- Humans
- Hypolipidemic Agents
- Interferon-gamma
- Lectins
- Lymphocyte Subsets
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Knockout
- Phenotype
- Receptors, Cell Surface
- STAT6 Transcription Factor
- Simvastatin
- Th1 Cells
- Th2 Cells
- beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases