UC San Diego

Retinoid-related orphan receptor (RAR) gamma (RORγt)-expressing regulatory T cells (RORγt⁺ T_regs) play pivotal roles in preventing T cell hyperactivation and maintaining tissue homeostasis, in part by secreting the anti-inflammation cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Here, we report that hypoxia-induced factor 1α (HIF1α) is the master transcription factor for Il10 in RORγt⁺ T_regs. This critical anti-inflammatory pathway is negatively regulated by an RNA binding protein DEAD box helicase 5 (DDX5). As a transcriptional corepressor, DDX5 restricts the expression of HIF1α and its downstream target gene Il10 in RORγt⁺ T_regs. T cell-specific Ddx5 knockout (DDX5^ΔT) mice have augmented RORγt⁺ T_reg suppressor activities and are better protected from intestinal inflammation. Genetic ablation or pharmacologic inhibition of HIF1α restores enteropathy susceptibility in DDX5^ΔT mice. The DDX5-HIF1α-IL-10 pathway is conserved in mice and humans. These findings reveal potential therapeutic targets for intestinal inflammatory diseases.