Protective Role of β-arrestin2 in Colitis Through Modulation of T-cell Activation

Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2015 Dec;21(12):2766-77. doi: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000000563.

Abstract

β-arrestin2 (β-arr2), identified as a scaffolding protein in G-protein-coupled receptor desensitization, is a negative regulator of inflammation in polymicrobial sepsis. In this study, we wanted to investigate the role of β-arr2 in intestinal inflammation, a site of persistent microbial stimulation. In the absence of β-arr2, mice exhibited greater extent of mucosal inflammation determined by cellular infiltration and expression of inflammatory mediators even under homeostatic conditions. Furthermore, β-arr2-deficient mice were more susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis as demonstrated by greater body weight loss, higher disease activity index, and shortened colon as compared with wild-type mice. We also show that T cells from β-arr2 knockout mice exhibit altered activation status under both basal and colitic conditions, implicating their involvement in disease induction. Further assessment of the role of β-arr2 in intrinsic T-cell differentiation confirmed its importance in T-cell polarization. Using the T-cell transfer model of colitis, we demonstrate that T-cell-specific β-arr2 is important in limiting colitic inflammation; however, it plays a paradoxical role in concurrent systemic wasting disease. Together, our study highlights a critical negative regulatory role of β-arr2 in intestinal inflammation and demonstrates a distinct role of T-cell-specific β-arr2 in systemic wasting disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrestins / deficiency
  • Arrestins / genetics
  • Arrestins / immunology*
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology*
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrb2 protein, mouse
  • Arrestins
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • beta-Arrestins
  • Dextran Sulfate