Interleukin-23 is sufficient to induce rapid de novo gut tumorigenesis, independent of carcinogens, through activation of innate lymphoid cells.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation has been associated with increased risk for developing gastrointestinal cancer. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor signaling has been correlated with inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis, as well as promotion of tumor growth. However, little is known about the relative potential for IL-23-directed causality in gut tumorigenesis. We report that IL-23 transgene expression was sufficient to induce rapid (3-4 weeks) de novo development of intestinal adenomas with 100% incidence. Initiation of tumorigenesis was independent of exogenous carcinogens, Helicobacter colonization, or pre-existing tumor-suppressor gene mutations. Tumorigenesis was mediated by Thy1(+)IL-23R(+) innate lymphoid cells (ILC3), in part, through IL-17 responses as tumor development was inhibited in RAG(-/-) × IL-17(-/-) double knockout mice. Remarkably, IL-23 initiation of tumorigenesis by resident ILCs consistently occurred before recruitment of conspicuous inflammatory infiltrates. Our results reveal an explicit role for IL-23-mediated initiation of gut tumorigenesis and implicate a key role for IL-23R(+) ILC3 in the absence of overt cellular infiltrate recruitment.