Free iron ions decrease indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression and reduce IFNγ-induced inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Interferon-γ (IFNγ)-mediated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression, important in innate immunity, immune suppression, and tolerance, can be counteracted by ferrous iron (FeSO4). Elevation of intracellular iron levels during stimulation with IFNγ impeded IFNγ-induced IDO mRNA and protein expression in HEp-2 cells. Decreased IDO expression was accompanied by decreased tryptophan degradation. Accordingly, IFNγ-mediated suppressing effects on Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection were reduced or even abolished in the presence of FeSO4. Conversely, lowering intracellular iron levels by deferoxamine (DFO) did not increase IFNγ-induced IDO expression but potentiated Chlamydia-suppressing effects by lowering intracellular iron availability. Additionally, DFO led to a CT-induced IDO expression in HEp-2 cells not treated with IFNγ. In summary, this study demonstrates that iron acts as a regulatory element for modulating IDO expression, in addition to its function as an essential element for chlamydial growth. This may represent an important control mechanism of IDO expression at the transcriptional level.