SHIP-deficient, alternatively activated macrophages protect mice during DSS-induced colitis

mφ are heterogeneous in their functions, and although it is clear that inflammatory mφ contribute to inflammation in IBDs, multiple lines of evidence suggest that M2a mφ may offer protection during intestinal inflammation. In vivo SHIP‐deficient mouse mφ are M2a so SHIP‐deficient mice provide a unique genetic model of M2a mφ. Based on this, this study tested the hypothesis that SHIP‐deficient, M2a mφ protect mice from intestinal inflammation. The objectives were to compare the susceptibility of SHIP+/+ and SHIP−/− littermates with DSS‐induced intestinal inflammation and to determine whether protection was mφ‐mediated and whether protection could be transferred to a susceptible host. We have found that SHIP−/− mice are protected during DSS‐induced intestinal inflammation. SHIP−/− mice have delayed rectal bleeding and reduced weight loss, disruption of intestinal architecture, and immune cell infiltration during DSS‐induced colitis relative to their WT littermates. Using liposome depletion of mφ, we found that SHIP−/− mouse protection was indeed mφ‐mediated. Finally, we determined that SHIP−/− mφ‐mediated protection could be conferred to susceptible WT mice by adoptive transfer of M2a mφ derived ex vivo. This study supports our hypothesis by demonstrating that SHIP‐deficient, M2a mφ are protective in this murine model of acute intestinal inflammation. Adoptive transfer of M2a mφ to patients with IBDs offers a promising, new strategy for treatment that may be particularly useful in patients who are otherwise refractory to conventional therapies.