Publication Date
2014
Journal Title
Molecular Medicine
Abstract
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare, chronic disease caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs) types 6 and 11 that is characterized by the polarization of adaptive immune responses that support persistent HPV infection. Respiratory papillomas express elevated mRNA levels of IL-36 gamma, a proinflammatory cytokine in comparison to autologous clinically normal laryngeal tissues; however there is no evidence of inflammation in these lesions. Consistent with this, respiratory papillomas do not contain T(H)1-like CD4(+) T-cells or cytotoxic CD8(+) T-cells, but instead contain a predominance of T(H)2-like and T regulatory cells (Tregs). In addition, papillomas also are infiltrated with immature Langerhans cells (iLCs). In this study, we show that papilloma cells express IL-36 gamma protein, and that human keratinocytes transduced with HPV11 have reduced IL-36 gamma secretion. We now provide the first evidence that peripheral blood-derived iLCs respond to IL-36 gamma by expressing inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. When stimulated with IL-36 gamma, iLCs from patients with RRP had lower expression levels of the T(H)2-like chemokine CCL-20 as compared with controls. Patients' iLCs also had decreased steady state levels of CCL-1, which is a proinflammatory chemokine. Moreover, CCL-1 levels in iLCs inversely correlated with the severity of RRP. The combined decrease of T(H)1- and a T(H)2-like chemokines by iLCs from patients could have consequences in the priming of IFN-gamma expression by CD8(+) T-cells. Taken together, our results suggest that, in RRP, there is a defect in the proinflammatory innate immune responses made by iLCs in response to IL-36 gamma. The consequence of this defect may lead to persistent HPV infection by failing to support an effective HPV-specific, T(H)1-like and/or T(c)1-like adaptive response, thus resulting in the predominant T(H)2-like and/or Treg micromilieu present in papillomas.
Volume Number
20
Pages
372-380
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2014/06/21
Status
Faculty, Northwell Researcher
Facility
School of Medicine; Northwell Health
Primary Department
Otolaryngology
Additional Departments
Pediatrics; Molecular Medicine
PMID
DOI
10.2119/molmed.2014.00098
COinS