Br J Pharmacol. 2013 May;169(1):90-101. doi: 10.1111/bph.12110.

IL-33/ST2 signalling contributes to carrageenin-induced innate inflammation and inflammatory pain: role of cytokines, endothelin-1 and prostaglandin E2.

Zarpelon AC¹, Cunha TM, Alves-Filho JC, Pinto LG, Ferreira SH, McInnes IB, Xu D, Liew FY, Cunha FQ, Verri WA Jr.

Author information

1: Departamento de Patologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Parana, Brazil.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

IL-33 signals through ST2 receptors and induces adaptive and innate inflammation. IL-33/ST2 is involved in adaptive inflammation-induced pain. Here, we have investigated the contribution of IL-33/ST2-triggered mechanisms to carrageenin-induced innate inflammation.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:

Carrageenin- and IL-33-induced inflammatory responses were assessed in BALB/c- (WT) and ST2-deficient ((-/-) ) mice as follows: oedema (plethysmometer), myeloperoxidase activity (colorimetric assay), mechanical hyperalgesia (electronic version of von Frey filaments), cytokine levels (ELISA), PGE2 (RIA), mRNA expression (quantitative PCR), drug treatments targeting leukocyte recruitment (fucoidin), TNF-α (infliximab), CXCL1 (antibody to CXCL1), IL-1 (IL-1ra), endothelin ETA (clazosentan) and ETB (BQ788) receptors and COX (indomethacin).

KEY RESULTS:

Carrageenin injection increased ST2 and IL-33 mRNA expression and IL-33 production in paw skin samples. Carrageenin-induced paw oedema, hyperalgesia and myeloperoxidase activity were reduced in ST2(-/-) compared with WT mice, effects mimicked by IL-33 injection in the paw. Furthermore, IL-33-induced hyperalgesia was reduced by fucoidin suggesting a role for recruited leukocytes in its hyperalgesic effect. IL-33-induced hyperalgesia in naïve mice was reduced by treatments targeting TNF, CXCL1, IL-1, endothelin receptors and COX while carrageenin-induced ST2-dependent TNF-α, CXCL1, IL-1β, IL-10 and PGE2 production and preproET-1 mRNA expression. Combining IL-33 and carrageenin at doses that were ineffective as single treatment induced significant hyperalgesia, oedema, myeloperoxidase activity and cytokine production in a ST2-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:

IL-33/ST2 signalling triggers the production of inflammatory mediators contributing to carrageenin-induced inflammation. These data reinforces the importance of IL-33/ST2 signalling as a target in innate inflammation and inflammatory pain.