Facilitation of colonic T cell immune responses is associated with an exacerbation of dextran sodium sulfate–induced colitis in mice lacking microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1

BACKGROUND: Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is a key enzyme that acts downstream of cyclooxygenase and plays a major role in inflammation by converting prostaglandin (PG) H(2) to PGE(2). The present study investigated the effect of genetic deletion of mPGES-1 on the development of immunologic responses to experimental colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), a well-established model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Colitis was induced in mice lacking mPGES-1 (mPGES-1(−/−) mice) and wild-type (WT) mice by administering DSS for 7 days. Colitis was assessed by body weight loss, diarrhea, fecal bleeding, and histological features. The colonic expression of mPGES-1 was determined by real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The impact of mPGES-1 deficiency on T cell immunity was determined by flow cytometry and T cell depletion in vivo. RESULTS: After administration of DSS, mPGES-1(−/−) mice exhibited more severe weight loss, diarrhea, and fecal bleeding than WT mice. Histological analysis further showed significant exacerbation of colonic inflammation in mPGES-1(−/−) mice. In WT mice, the colonic expression of mPGES-1 was highly induced on both mRNA and protein levels and colonic PGE(2) increased significantly after DSS administration. Additionally, mPGES-1 protein was localized in the colonic mucosal epithelium and infiltrated inflammatory cells in underlying connective tissues and the lamina propria. The abnormalities consistent with colitis in mPGES-1(−/−) mice were associated with higher expression of colonic T-helper (Th)17 and Th1 cytokines, including interleukin 17A and interferon-γ. Furthermore, lack of mPGES-1 increased the numbers of Th17 and Th1 cells in the lamina propria mononuclear cells within the colon, even though the number of suppressive regulatory T cells also increased. CD4(+) T cell depletion effectively reduced symptoms of colitis as well as colonic expression of Th17 and Th1 cytokines in mPGES-1(−/−) mice, suggesting the requirement of CD4(+) T cells in the exacerbation of DSS-induced colitis under mPGES-1 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that mPGES-1 is the main enzyme responsible for colonic PGE(2) production and deficiency of mPGES-1 facilitates the development of colitis by affecting the development of colonic T cell–mediated immunity. mPGES-1 might therefore impact both the intestinal inflammation and T cell–mediated immunity associated with IBD. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41232-021-00188-1.