Reverse signaling through GITR ligand enables dexamethasone to activate IDO in allergy.

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Grohmann U, Volpi C, Fallarino F, Bozza S, Bianchi R, Vacca C, Orabona C, Belladonna ML, Ayroldi E, Nocentini G, Boon L, Bistoni F, Fioretti MC, Romani L, Riccardi C, Puccetti P

Reverse signaling through GITR ligand enables dexamethasone to activate IDO in allergy.

Nat Med. 2007 May;13(5):579-86. Epub 2007 Apr 8.

PubMed ID

17417651 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) on T cells and its natural ligand, GITRL, on accessory cells contribute to the control of immune homeostasis. Here we show that reverse signaling through GITRL after engagement by soluble GITR initiates the immunoregulatory pathway of tryptophan catabolism in mouse plasmacytoid dendritic cells, by means of noncanonical NF-kappaB-dependent induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone administered in vivo activated IDO through the symmetric induction of GITR in CD4(+) T cells and GITRL in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The drug exerted IDO-dependent protection in a model of allergic airway inflammation. Modulation of tryptophan catabolism via the GITR-GITRL coreceptor system might represent an effective therapeutic target in immune regulation. Induction of IDO could be an important mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory action of corticosteroids.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Tryptophan	Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate	Details