IL-17 production from activated T cells is required for the spontaneous development of destructive arthritis in mice deficient in IL-1 receptor antagonist.
IL-17 is a T cell-derived, proinflammatory cytokine that is suspected to be involved in the development of various inflammatory diseases. Although there are elevated levels of IL-17 in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the pathogenic role of IL-17 in the development of rheumatoid arthritis remains to be elucidated. In this report, the effects of IL-17 deficiency were examined in IL-1 receptor antagonist-deficient (IL-1Ra(-/-)) mice that spontaneously develop an inflammatory and destructive arthritis due to unopposed excess IL-1 signaling. IL-17 expression is greatly enhanced in IL-1Ra(-/-) mice, suggesting that IL-17 activity is involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis in these mice. Indeed, the spontaneous development of arthritis did not occur in IL-1Ra(-/-) mice also deficient in IL-17. The proliferative response of ovalbumin-specific T cells from DO11.10 mice against ovalbumin cocultured with antigen-presenting cells from either IL-1Ra(-/-) mice or wild-type mice was reduced by IL-17 deficiency, indicating insufficient T cell activation. Cross-linking OX40, a cosignaling molecule on CD4(+) T cells that plays an important role in T cell antigen-presenting cell interaction, with anti-OX40 Ab accelerated the production of IL-17 induced by CD3 stimulation. Because OX40 is induced by IL-1 signaling, IL-17 induction is likely to be downstream of IL-1 through activation of OX40. These observations suggest that IL-17 plays a crucial role in T cell activation, downstream of IL-1, causing the development of autoimmune arthritis.
Nakae
Susumu
S
Center for Experimental Medicine and Department of Cancer Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Saijo
Shinobu
S
Horai
Reiko
R
Sudo
Katsuko
K
Mori
Shigeo
S
Iwakura
Yoichiro
Y
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053278:OX40 Ligand; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors
C507764:Il1rn protein, mouse; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D020381:Interleukin-17; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053278:OX40 Ligand; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C504586:Tnfsf4 protein, mouse; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D023201:CD40 Ligand