Protective Immunity to Systemic Infection with Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in the Absence of IL-12 Is Associated with IL-23-Dependent IL-22, but Not IL-17

IL-12 is essential for protective T cell-mediated immunity against Salmonella infection. To characterize the role of the related cytokine IL-23, wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and p19−/− mice were infected systemically with an attenuated strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis). IL-23-deficient mice controlled infection with S. Enteritidis similarly as WT mice. Similar IFN-γ production as compared with WT mice, but defective IL-17A and IL-22 production was found in the absence of IL-23. Nevertheless, although IL-23 is required for T cell-dependent cytokine responses, IL-23 is dispensable for protection against S. Enteritidis when IL-12 is present. To analyze the role of IL-23 in the absence of IL-12, low doses of S. Enteritidis were administered to p35−/− mice (lacking IL-12), p35/19−/− mice (lacking IL-12 and IL-23), p35/40−/− mice (lacking IL-12, IL-23, and homodimeric IL-12p40), or p35/IL-17A−/− mice (lacking IL-12 and IL-17A). We found survival of p35−/− and p35/IL-17A−/− mice, whereas p35/19−/− and p35/40−/− mice died within 3–6 wk and developed liver necrosis. This indicates that IL-23, but not homodimeric IL-12p40, is required for protection, which, surprisingly, is independent of IL-17A. Moreover, protection was associated with IL-22, but not IL-17F or IL-21 expression or with neutrophil recruitment. Finally, anti-IL-22 treatment of S. Enteritidis-infected p35−/− mice resulted in liver necrosis, indicating a central role of IL-22 in hepatocyte protection during salmonellosis. In conclusion, IL-23-dependent IL-22, but not IL-17 production is associated with protection against systemic infection with S. Enteritidis in the absence of IL-12.