The Interactions Between Autoinflammation and Type 2 Immunity: From Mechanistic Studies to Epidemiologic Associations

Front Immunol. 2022 Feb 24:13:818039. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.818039. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Autoinflammatory diseases are a group of clinical syndromes characterized by constitutive overactivation of innate immune pathways. This results in increased production of or responses to monocyte- and neutrophil-derived cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and Type 1 interferon (IFN). By contrast, clinical allergy is caused by dysregulated type 2 immunity, which is characterized by expansion of T helper 2 (Th2) cells and eosinophils, as well as overproduction of the associated cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. Traditionally, type 2 immune cells and autoinflammatory effectors were thought to counter-regulate each other. However, an expanding body of evidence suggests that, in some contexts, autoinflammatory pathways and cytokines may potentiate type 2 immune responses. Conversely, type 2 immune cells and cytokines can regulate autoinflammatory responses in complex and context-dependent manners. Here, we introduce the concepts of autoinflammation and type 2 immunity. We proceed to review the mechanisms by which autoinflammatory and type 2 immune responses can modulate each other. Finally, we discuss the epidemiology of type 2 immunity and clinical allergy in several monogenic and complex autoinflammatory diseases. In the future, these interactions between type 2 immunity and autoinflammation may help to expand the spectrum of autoinflammation and to guide the management of patients with various autoinflammatory and allergic diseases.

Keywords: allergy; autoinflammation; autoinflammatory diseases (AID); type 2 immune response; type 2 immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cytokines
  • Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity* / complications
  • Hypersensitivity* / epidemiology
  • Interferon Type I*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interferon Type I
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha