Ets-1, a functional cofactor of T-bet, is essential for Th1 inflammatory responses

Abstract

To mount an effective type 1 immune response, type 1 T helper (Th1) cells must produce inflammatory cytokines and simultaneously suppress the expression of antiinflammatory cytokines. How these two processes are coordinately regulated at the molecular level is still unclear. In this paper, we show that the proto-oncogene E26 transformation–specific-1 (Ets-1) is necessary for T-bet to promote interferon-γ production and that Ets-1 is essential for mounting effective Th1 inflammatory responses in vivo. In addition, Ets-1–deficient Th1 cells also produce a very high level of interleukin 10. Thus, Ets-1 plays a crucial and unique role in the reciprocal regulation of inflammatory and antiinflammatory Th responses.