title: IL-35 is a novel cytokine with therapeutic effects against collagen-induced arthritis through the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th17 cells.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) and the p35 subunit of IL-12 have been reported to form a heterodimeric hematopoietin in human and mouse. We have constructed a heterodimeric protein covalently linking EBI3 and p35, to form a novel cytokine which we now call IL-35. The Fc fusion protein of IL-35 induced proliferation of murine CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells when stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in vitro. The IL-35-expanded CD4(+)CD25(+) T cell population expressed Foxp3 and produced elevated levels of IL-10, whereas the IL-35-induced CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells produced IFN-gamma but not IL-4. The in vitro expanded CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells retained their suppressive functions against CD4(+)CD25(-) effector cells. Furthermore, when cultured with soluble anti-CD3 antibody and antigen-presenting cells, IL-35 suppressed the proliferation of CD4(+)CD25(-) effector cells. Moreover, IL-35 inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells in vitro. In vivo, IL-35 effectively attenuated established collagen-induced arthritis in mice, with concomitant suppression of IL-17 production but enhanced IFN-gamma synthesis. Thus, IL-35 is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine suppressing the immune response through the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th17 cell development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Infection and Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niedbala
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Beilei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Axel J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hueber
authors.forename: Bernard P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Iain B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: McInnes
authors.forename: Foo Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Liew
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D053765:Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C097732:EBI3 protein, human; D053765:Interleukin-12 Subunit p35; D007378:Interleukins; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins