title: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation modulates CD8αα+TCRαβ+IELs and suppression of colitis manifestations in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This research is dedicated to investigating the effects and potential mechanism of action of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor on the intestinal mucosal immune system in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colitis was induced by the administration of 3% DSS to wild-type C57BL/6J mice for 7days. 6-formylindolo(3, 2-b)carbazole (FICZ), an endogenous agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), was given intraperitoneally on a daily basis beginning 2days after the start of DSS administration. The mice were weighed and assessed, and colon tissues were measured. Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) were isolated from the colon and examined by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FICZ ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, resulting in a reduced disease activity index and improvement in the histology and length of the colon. Colitis reduced the percentage and number of CD8αα+TCRαβ+IELs. FICZ prevented the reduction in the numbers of CD8αα+TCRαβ+IELs by upregulating the expression of the IL-15 receptor and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and attenuating the apoptotic rate of CD8αα+TCRαβ+IELs. Finally, IL-10 was increased and IFN-γ was decreased in CD8αα+TCRαβ+IELs by FICZ administration in DSS-induced colitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that AhR activation ameliorated DSS-induced acute colitis, in a manner that is associated with the local expansion and functions of CD8αα+TCRαβ+IELs in acute colitis. The findings indicate that AhR-related ligands might be targeted as novel drug targets for IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Weigang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Baifa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Zhicao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Liangzi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Zhongze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Qimeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Yuanhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. Electronic address: yanghuaptwk@sina.com.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003092:Colitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011897:Random Allocation; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000502:physiology*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; C409469:CD8 antigen, alpha chain; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon
keywords: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; CD8αα(+)TCRαβ(+); Cytokine; Intraepithelial; Lymphocytes; Receptor