Expression of interleukin-17F in a mouse model of allergic asthma.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin (IL)-17F is a recently discovered cytokine and is derived from a panel of limited cell types, such as activated CD4+ T cells, basophils, and mast cells. IL-17F is known to induce several cytokines and chemokines. However, its involvement in airway inflammation has not been well understood. To this end, the expression of IL-17F and the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on its expression in a mouse model of asthma were examined.


METHODS
Five-week-old BALB/c male mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of ovalbumin (OVA) with alum, and challenged by daily inhalation of aerosolized 1% OVA. 24 h after last challenge (OVA/OVA), the expression of IL-17F was examined in lung tissues by immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Control mice were sensitized and challenged with saline (Sham/Sham). In addition, a group OF OVA-sensitized mice received i.p. injection of water-soluble dexamethasone (DEX) in saline 1 h before ova challenge (OVA/DEX).


RESULTS
In sham-challenged mice, IL-17F was not expressed in the lungs, while, in contrast, IL-17F was predominantly expressed in bronchial epithelial cells in addition to the infiltrating inflammatory cells in OVA/OVA mice. Further, the expression of IL-17 F was significantly attenuated by the treatment of mice with DEX.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that bronchial epithelium-derived IL-17F may represent a new pharmacological target for glucocorticoids and may play a role in allergic asthma.
Suzuki
Shintaro
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan.
Kokubu
Fumio
F
Kawaguchi
Mio
M
Homma
Tetsuya
T
Odaka
Miho
M
Watanabe
Shin
S
Ieki
Koshi
K
Matsukura
Satoshi
S
Kurokawa
Masatsugu
M
Takeuchi
Hiroko
H
Sasaki
Yoshiko
Y
Huang
Shau-Ku
SK
Adachi
Mitsuru
M
Ota
Hidekazu
H
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007114:Immunization; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000633:toxicity
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin