title: Sphingosine-1-phospate receptor 4 (S1P₄) deficiency profoundly affects dendritic cell function and TH17-cell differentiation in a murine model.
abstract: Although predominantly expressed on lymphocytic and hematopoietic cells, the role of sphingosine-1-phospate receptor 4 (S1P(4)) in immune homeostasis is still poorly understood. In this report, we used a S1P(4)-deficient murine model to characterize the biological role of S1P(4)-mediated S1P signaling in the immune system. S1p(4)(-/-) animals showed normal peripheral lymphocyte numbers and a regular architecture of secondary lymphoid organs. Interestingly, S1P(4) only marginally affects T-cell function in vivo. In contrast, dendritic cell (DC) migration and cytokine secretion are profoundly affected by S1P(4) deficiency. Lack of S1P(4) expression on DCs significantly reduces T(H)17 differentiation of T(H) cells. Furthermore, in various in vivo models of T(H)1- or T(H)2-dominated immune reactions, S1P(4) deficiency consistently increased the amplitude of T(H)2-dominated immune responses, while those depending on T(H)1-dominated mechanisms were diminished. Finally, S1p(4)(-/-) mice showed decreased pathology in a model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. In summary, for the first time, we show that S1P(4) signaling is involved in the regulation of DC function and T(H)17 T-cell differentiation. S1P(4)-mediated S1P signaling also modifies the course of various immune diseases in a murine model. We propose that S1P(4) may constitute an interesting target to influence the course of various autoimmune pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Genetics and Immunogenetics, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golfier
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tabeling
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Räbel
authors.forename: Markus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gräler
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witzenrath
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / Q000172:deficiency*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000502:physiology; D000081025:Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; D000081025:Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors; C568792:S1pr4 protein, mouse; C060506:sphingosine 1-phosphate; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D013110:Sphingosine