The Journal of immunology : official journal of the American Association of Immunologists
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Transcription factor cAMP response element modulator (CREM)α contributes to various cellular and molecular abnormalities in T cells, including increased IL-17 and decreased IL-2 expression. For development of acute lung injury (ALI), the invasion and regulation of immune cells are highly important, but the role of T cells remains unclear. In this study, we show that CREMα is upregulated in LPS-induced ALI. ⋯ Finally, an adoptive transfer of CREM(-/-) CD4(+) T cells, but not of wild-type T cells into RAG-1(-/-) mice results in ameliorated disease levels. Thus, levels of CREM in T cells determine the outcome of ALI, and CREMα transgenic animals represent a model in which proinflammatory T cells aggravate ALI in different phases of the disease. Given the fact that patients with autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus show higher levels of CREMα and an increased susceptibility toward infectious complications, our finding is of potential clinical significance and may enable new therapeutic strategies.