Abstract
Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is a cytokine secreted by T-helper (Th)9 cells, and activin A can enhance Th9 cell differentiation. However, whether activin A affects IL-9 production by natural killer (NK) cells remains unclear. Herein, we found that not only Th cells, but also CD3−CD49b+NKp46+ NK cells of Balb/c mice produced IL-9. Although activin A promoted IL-9 expression in CD4+ Th cells, it inhibited IL-9 production by CD49b+NKp46+ NK cells in mice. Furthermore, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that mouse NK cells could secrete mature IL-9 protein, and activin A inhibited IL-9 release by NK cells. Additionally, activin A inhibited interferon (IFN)-γ production in splenic NK cells in mice, but promoted IL-2 production, and did not alter the production of IL-10. Western blotting results showed that levels of activin type IIA receptor (ActRIIA), Smad3 and phosphorylated-Smad3 (p-SMAD3) protein increased in activin A-treated splenic NK cells, compared with that in control NK cells. The inhibitory effects of activin A on IL-9 production by NK cells were attenuated in the presence of activin antagonist follistatin (FST) or Smad3 knockdown to NK cells. These data suggest that although activin A up-regulates IL-9 expression in Th cells, it inhibits IL-9 production in NK cells through Smad3 signaling.
Funding source: National Basic Research Program of China
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2015CB943300
Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China
Award Identifier / Grant number: 31871510
Funding source: Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2014Z066
Award Identifier / Grant number: 20160101235JC
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2018J063
Funding statement: This work is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2015CB943300), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31871510) and Health Commission Foundation and Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province (2014Z066, 20160101235JC and 2018J063).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Supplementary Material
The online version of this article offers supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/hsz-2019-0245).
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