Paraoxonase-1 Suppresses Experimental Colitis via the Inhibition of IFN-γ Production from CD4 T Cells

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, where excessive Th1 cell responses are observed. We performed experiments to identify immunologically bioactive proteins in human plasma and found that paraoxonase (PON)-1, which has esterase activity and is associated with high-density lipoproteins, inhibited the IFN-γ production by both murine and human differentiating Th1 cells. Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid–induced colitis was attenuated by the administration of PON-1. The beneficial effects of PON-1 were associated with a reduced ratio of IFN-γ–producing CD4 T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and decreased production of T cell–related cytokines in the colon. PON-1 inhibited the TCR-induced activation of ERK-MAPK signaling and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in CD4 T cells. Interestingly, an excessive CD4 T cell response was observed in PON-1–deficient mice under physiological and pathological conditions. Additionally, the efficacy of PON-1 or G3C9-C284A (G3C9), which shows a higher esterase activity than PON-1, on colitis was similar to that of an anti–TNF-α mAb, which is a clinically used CD treatment. Moreover, G3C9 more effectively suppressed CD4+CD45RBhigh cell transfer–induced chronic colitis in mice than did PON-1, and the efficacy of G3C9 against the colitis was similar to that of the anti–TNF-α mAb. Therefore, PON-1 (or G3C9) administration may be clinically beneficial for CD patients.