Contrasting roles for STAT4 and STAT6 signal transduction pathways in murine renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Recent data support a modulatory role for CD4 T cells in experimental renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). CD4 T cells can functionally differentiate to either a Th1 (IFN-gamma producing) or the counterbalancing Th2 (IL-4) phenotype. The enzymes signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 4 and STAT6 regulate Th1 or Th2 differentiation and cytokine production, respectively. We therefore hypothesized that mice that were STAT4 deficient would be protected from renal IRI and that STAT6-deficient mice would have a more severe course. Intracellular cytokine staining of splenocytes from STAT4 -/- or STAT6 -/- exhibited distinct IFN-gamma and IL-4 cytokine expression profiles. STAT6 -/- had markedly worse renal function and tubular injury postischemia compared with wild type. STAT4 -/- had only mildly improved function. Renal phagocyte infiltration and ICAM-1 upregulation were similar in STAT4 -/-, STAT6 -/-, and wild type. To evaluate if the mechanism of the marked worsening in the STAT6 -/- mice could be due to IL-4 deficiency, IL-4-deficient mice were studied and had similar postischemic phenotype to STAT6 -/- mice. These data demonstrate that the STAT6 pathway has a major protective role in renal IRI. IL-4 deficiency is a likely mechanism underlying the STAT6 effect. A yin-yang role for inflammation is emerging in renal IRI, similar to recent observations in atherosclerosis.