AUTHOR=Ritter Kristina , Rousseau Jasmin , Hölscher Christoph TITLE=Interleukin-27 in Tuberculosis: A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing? JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.810602 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.810602 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

In tuberculosis (TB), protective inflammatory immune responses and the pathological sequelae of chronic inflammation significantly depend on a timely balance of cytokine expression. In contrast to other anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-27 has fundamental effects in experimental Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection: the absence of IL-27-mediated signalling promotes a better control of mycobacterial growth on the one hand side but also leads to a chronic hyperinflammation and immunopathology later during infection. Hence, in the context of novel host-directed therapeutic approaches and vaccination strategies for the management of TB, the timely restricted blockade of IL-27 signalling may represent an advanced treatment option. In contrast, administration of IL-27 itself may allow to treat the immunopathological consequences of chronic TB. In both cases, a better knowledge of the cell type-specific and kinetic effects of IL-27 after Mtb infection is essential. This review summarizes IL-27-mediated mechanisms affecting protection and immunopathology in TB and discusses possible therapeutic applications.