Chuang, Huai-ChiaHuai-ChiaChuangHsueh, Chia-HsinChia-HsinHsuehHsu, Pu-MingPu-MingHsuTsai, Ching-YiChing-YiTsaiShih, Ying-ChunYing-ChunShihHSIEN-YI CHIUChen, Yi-MingYi-MingChenYu, Wen-KuangWen-KuangYuChen, Ming-HanMing-HanChenTan, Tse-HuaTse-HuaTan2024-03-212024-03-212023-11-0100219738https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/641166Dual-specificity phosphatase 8 (DUSP8) is a MAPK phosphatase that dephosphorylates and inactivates the kinase JNK. DUSP8 is highly expressed in T cells; however, the in vivo role of DUSP8 in T cells remains unclear. Using T cell-specific Dusp8 conditional KO (T-Dusp8 cKO) mice, mass spectrometry analysis, ChIP-Seq, and immune analysis, we found that DUSP8 interacted with Pur-α, stimulated interleukin-9 (IL-9) gene expression, and promoted Th9 differentiation. Mechanistically, DUSP8 dephosphorylated the transcriptional repressor Pur-α upon TGF-β signaling, leading to the nuclear export of Pur-α and subsequent IL-9 transcriptional activation. Furthermore, Il-9 mRNA levels were induced in Pur-α-deficient T cells. In addition, T-Dusp8-cKO mice displayed reduction of IL-9 and Th9-mediated immune responses in the allergic asthma model. Reduction of Il-9 mRNA levels in T cells and allergic responses of T-Dusp8-cKO mice was reversed by Pur-α knockout. Remarkably, DUSP8 protein levels and the DUSP8-Pur-α interaction were indeed increased in the cytoplasm of T cells from people with asthma and patients with atopic dermatitis. Collectively, DUSP8 induces TGF-β-stimulated IL-9 transcription and Th9-induced allergic responses by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the transcriptional repressor Pur-α. DUSP8 may be a T-cell biomarker and therapeutic target for asthma and atopic dermatitis.enInflammationPhosphoprotein phosphatasesSignal transductionT cells[SDGs]SDG3journal article10.1172/JCI166269379093292-s2.0-85175877809