Here, Frisbee et al. show that hypervirulent Clostridium difficile induces IL-33 expression in the gut and IL-33 reduces mortality and morbidity via group 2 innate lymphoid cells. Furthermore, serum levels of the soluble IL-33 decoy receptor, sST2, are associated with enhanced disease severity in human C. difficile patients.
- Alyse L. Frisbee
- Mahmoud M. Saleh
- William A. Petri Jr.