Anti-inflammatory roles of interleukin-35 in the pathogenesis of Japanese cedar pollinosis

• Published in: Asia Pacific allergy Vol. 11; no. 3; p. e34
• Main Authors: Kouzaki, Hideaki, Arai, Yukihiro, Nakamura, Keigo, Murao, Takuya, Tojima, Ichiro, Shimizu, Shino, Yuta, Atsushi, Shimizu, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology 21.07.2021
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2233-8276; 2233-8268
• DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2021.11.e34

Background Interleukin (IL)-35 has been recently identified as an anti-inflammatory cytokine in allergic inflammation. However, its biological role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis has not been fully elucidated. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of IL-35 in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis in patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from healthy controls and JCP patients during the off-season for pollen. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with Cry j 1, a major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen and production of IL-5, IL-13, and IL-35 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Th2 (CD4 + ST2 + ) cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of JCP patients, and the inhibitory effects of IL-35 on cell differentiation, proliferation and mRNA expression of IL-5, IL-13, and GATA3 were examined. B cells were also isolated and the effects of IL-35 on total IgE production were examined. Results Cry j 1-induced production of IL-5 and IL-13 was significantly increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from JCP patients, whereas Cry j 1-induced IL-35 production was significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. IL-35 significantly inhibited Th2 cell differentiation, group 2 innate lymphoid cell proliferation, and mRNA expression of IL-5, IL-13, and GATA3 in Th2 cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells. IL-35 also inhibited IgE production from B cells. Conclusion IL-35 is an important anti-inflammatory cytokine in JCP, and its biological roles include the downregulation of Th2 cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells, and the inhibition of IgE production from B cells. These findings demonstrate that IL-35 may have the potential to exert anti-allergic effects for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.