IL-38 regulates intestinal stem cell homeostasis by inducing WNT signaling and beneficial IL-1β secretion

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  • Dinarello, Alberto
  • Makenna May
  • Jesus Amo-Aparicio
  • Tania Azam
  • Joseph M. Gaballa
  • Carlo Marchetti
  • Annachiara Tesoriere
  • Rachele Ghirardo
  • Jasmina S. Redzic
  • William S. Webber
  • Shaikh M. Atif
  • Suzhao Li
  • Elan Z. Eisenmesser
  • Dennis M. de Graaf
  • Charles A. Dinarello

The IL-1 Family member IL-38 has been characterized primarily as an antiinflammatory cytokine in human and mouse models of systemic diseases. Here, we examined the role of IL-38 in the murine small intestine (SI). Immunostaining of SI revealed that IL-38 expression partially confines to intestinal stem cells. Cultures of intestinal organoids reveal IL-38 functions as a growth factor by increasing organoid size via inducing WNT3a. In contrast, organoids from IL-38-deficient mice develop more slowly. This reduction in size is likely due to the downregulation of intestinal stemness markers (i.e., Fzd5, Ephb2, and Olfm4) expression compared with wild-type organoids. The IL-38 binding to IL-1R6 and IL-1R9 is still a matter of debate. Therefore, to analyze the molecular mechanisms of IL-38 signaling, we also examined organoids from IL-1R9-deficient mice. Unexpectedly, these organoids, although significantly smaller than wild type, respond to IL-38, suggesting that IL-1R9 is not involved in IL-38 signaling in the stem cell crypt. Nevertheless, silencing of IL-1R6 disabled the organoid response to the growth property of IL-38, thus suggesting IL-1R6 as the main receptor used by IL-38 in the crypt compartment. In organoids from wild-type mice, IL-38 stimulation induced low concentrations of IL-1β which contribute to organoid growth. However, high concentrations of IL-1β have detrimental effects on the cultures that were prevented by treatment with recombinant IL-38. Overall, our data demonstrate an important regulatory function of IL-38 as a growth factor, and as an antiinflammatory molecule in the SI, maintaining homeostasis.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2306476120
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume120
Issue number45
Number of pages12
ISSN0027-8424
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

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Copyright © 2023 the Author(s).

    Research areas

  • gastroenterology, inflammation, interleukin

ID: 374455444