T helper differentiation proceeds through Stat1-dependent, Stat4-dependent and Stat4-independent phases.

Much of our focus in understanding Th1/Th2 development has been on the signals delivered by IL-12 and IL-4 as final determinants of terminal T cell differentiation. Because extinction of IL-12 signaling in early Th2 development could potentially be important in imprinting a more permanent Th2 phenotype on a population of T cells, we have also examined various parameters regulating the IL-12 signaling pathway. Whereas IL-4 appears to repress functional IL-12 signaling through inhibition of IL-12R beta 2 expression, IFN-gamma in the mouse, and IFN-alpha in the human appear to induce IL-12R beta 2 expression and promote IL-12 responsiveness. We propose that Th1 development can be considered in two stages, capacitance and development. Capacitance would simply involve expression of IL-12R beta 1 and beta 2 subunits, regulated by TCR, IL-4 and IFNs. The second stage, development, we propose is the true IL-12 induced developmental stage, involving expression of Stat4 inducible proteins. In the human, this may also occur via IFN-alpha, which is able to activate Stat4. It is perhaps possible that all of Stat4 actions on Th1 development may be exert directly by Stat4 at the IFN-gamma gene, however we suggest that, more likely, Stat4 may act to induce Th1 development through the induction of other non-cytokine genes, whose stable expression maintains the transcriptional state of a Th1 cell.

The Ets transcription factor ERM is Th1-specific and induced by IL-12 through a Stat4-dependent pathway.

Interleukin 12 (IL-12)-induced T helper 1 (Th1) development requires Stat4 activation. However, antigen-activated Th1 cells can produce interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) independently of IL-12 and Stat4 activation. Thus, in differentiated Th1 cells, factors regulated by IL-12 and Stat4 may be involved in IFN-gamma production. Using subtractive cloning, we identified ERM, an Ets transcription factor, to be a Th1-specific, IL-12-induced gene. IL-12-induction of ERM occurred in wild-type and Stat1-deficient, but not Stat4-deficient, T cells, suggesting ERM is Stat4-inducible. Retroviral expression of ERM did not restore IFN-gamma production in Stat4-deficient T cells, but augmented IFN-gamma expression in Stat4-heterozygous T cells. Ets factors frequently regulate transcription via cooperative interactions with other transcription factors, and ERM has been reported to cooperate with c-Jun. However, in the absence of other transcription factors, ERM augmented expression of an IFN-gamma reporter by only 2-fold. Thus, determining the requirement for ERM in Th1 development likely will require gene targeting.

T cell genetic background determines maintenance of IL-12 signaling: effects on BALB/c and B10.D2 T helper cell type 1 phenotype development.

In this report, we examined the molecular basis underlying the genetic difference between BALB/c and B10.D2 T cells for T helper phenotype development in vitro. We found a strain-dependent difference in early maintenance of IL-12 responsiveness by T cells developing in vitro in unmanipulated (neutral) conditions. Thus, when activated without addition of exogenous cytokines or neutralization of endogenous cytokines, B10.D2, but not BALB/c, T cells remain responsive to IL-12 when activated for 7 days. The pattern of IL-12 responsiveness correlated with expression of the IL-12R signaling subunit, IL-12R beta2, and with IL-12-induced STAT4 phosphorylation. When activated under neutral conditions, BALB/c T cells rapidly lose IL-12R beta2 expression, STAT4 phosphorylation, and functional IL-12 responsiveness. More efficient maintenance of IL-12R beta2 expression by B10.D2 T cells activated under neutral conditions may explain the previously observed increase in IFN-gamma production relative to that of BALB/c. This difference could potentially provide greater protection from certain pathogens that do not immediately elicit strong Th1-inducing conditions via activation of the innate immune system.

Regulation of interleukin-12 signalling during T helper phenotype development.

The experiments described above have allowed us to define the molecular events in IL-12 signalling. Within minutes after IL-12 treatment of responsive cells, Stat1, Stat3, and Stat4 are tyrosine phosphorylated. These molecules form nuclear DNA-binding complexes consisting of homodimeric Stat1 and heterodimeric Stat3-Stat4 complexes. In a murine in vitro phenotype development model, T cells rapidly and selectively lose their capacity to respond to IL-12 upon acquisition of the Th2 phenotype. This hyporesponsiveness is manifested by the inability of IL-12 to induce IFN gamma production in differentiated Th2 cells, as well as the inability of IL-12 to induce the activation of Stat4. Despite the functional defect of IL-12 signalling in Th2 cells, all known components of the IL-12 signal transduction pathway are present. We speculate that in Th2 cells, the second receptor chain may be absent or one of the other components may be modified. Genetic experiments in Balb/c and B10.D2 strains of mice have demonstrated several differences in T helper differentiation in vitro. Stimulation of T cells under neutral conditions results in a bias of Balb/c T cells toward the Th2 extreme and B10 T cells toward the Th1 extreme of cytokine production. Following stimulation under neutral conditions, B10 T cells retain the ability to respond to IL-12 while Balb/c T cells lose IL-12 responsiveness. Mating experiments have demonstrated that the B10 genetic effect is dominant in F1 mice. Analysis of backcrossed animals has suggested that the ability to respond to IL-12 in the secondary stimulation may be controlled by a single dominant B10 gene. The results we describe may have profound implications for allergy. Since allergic responses are largely due to the activation of the Th2 subset of T lymphocytes, a better understanding of T cell phenotype development may reveal multiple targets for therapeutic intervention. First, a better understanding of Th1 phenotype induction in response to IL-12 may allow prevention of in vivo allergic responses using pharmacological tools which bias allergen-specific responses to the Th1 subset. Second, a molecular explantation of why Th2 cells fail to reverse phenotype in response to IL-12 may allow treatment of atopic individuals to remove the disease-promoting T lymphocyte compartment. Finally, a better understanding of the basis for genetic differences in murine T helper cell differentiation may allow us to identify a causative genetic element in humans, yielding better diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Developmental commitment to the Th2 lineage by extinction of IL-12 signaling.

Developmental-commitment to Th1 or Th2 responses critically influences host susceptibility to particular pathogens. We describe a novel mechanism governing stable commitment to Th2 differentiation. Naive T cells develop strongly polarized Th1 and Th2 profiles by 7 days after activation. However, commitment of these developing cells differs substantially. Although IL-4 reverses early Th1 differentiation, IL-12 cannot reverse early Th2 differentiation. Th1 reversibility results from maintenance of IL-4 signal transduction, whereas Th2 commitment results from rapid loss of IL-12 signaling. The IL-12 signaling defect in Th2 cells results in failure to phosphorylate Jak2, Stat3, and Stat4. Since Th2 cells express the mRNA for the cloned murine IL-12 receptor beta subunit, the signaling defect may involve expression or function of unidentified receptor components. The rapid extinction of IL-12 signaling in Th2 cells provides a demonstration of a mechanism for the stable commitment to a T helper phenotype.

Interleukin 12 signaling in T helper type 1 (Th1) cells involves tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)3 and Stat4.

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) initiates the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells to T helper type 1 (Th1) cells critical for resistance to intracellular pathogens such as Leishmania major. To explore the basis of IL-12 action, we analyzed induction of nuclear factors in Th1 cells. IL-12 selectively induced nuclear DNA-binding complexes that contained Stat3 and Stat4, recently cloned members of the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). While Stat3 participates in signaling for several other cytokines, Stat4 was not previously known to participate in the signaling pathway for any natural ligand. The selective activation of Stat4 provides a basis for unique actions of IL-12 on Th1 development. Thus, this study presents the first identification of the early events in IL-12 signaling in T cells and of ligand activation of Stat4.