title: Alpha1beta1 integrin and interleukin-7 receptor up-regulate the expression of RANKL in human T cells and enhance their osteoclastogenic function.
abstract: Activated T cells, through the production of the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) cytokine, have been implicated in the osteoclast development and bone loss that are associated with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, the cellular pathways that regulate the expression of RANKL and the induction of osteoclasts are still unclear. In this study, we show that, in human effector CD4(+) T cells, activation of alpha1beta1 integrin and interleukin (IL)-7 receptor (IL-7R) up-regulates the expression and production of RANKL but has no effect on the production of interferon-gamma, an inhibitor of T-cell-mediated osteoclastogenesis. Thus, both alpha1beta1 integrin and IL-7R enhance the ability of these cells to induce the formation of osteoclasts from human monocytes. Furthermore, we found that simultaneous activation of effector CD4(+) T cells via alpha1beta1 integrin and IL-7R synergistically increases the production of RANKL and enhances their osteoclastogenic function. We also show that, although alpha1beta1 integrin does not protect human effector CD4(+) T cells from IL-2-withdrawal-induced apoptosis, it does enhance the pro-survival effect of IL-7, further emphasizing the importance of the alpha1beta1/IL-7R synergistic effect. Together our results identify a new function of alpha1beta1 integrin in T cells and suggest that activation of effector CD4(+) T cells through alpha1beta1 integrin and IL-7R is an important regulatory pathway in T-cell-dependent osteoclastogenesis. Further understanding of the mechanisms by which IL-7R and alpha1beta1 integrin promote T-cell-mediated osteoclastogenesis will lead to new insights into the regulatory pathways of T-cell-dependent bone resorption associated with autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Rhumatologie et Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gendron
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boisvert
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chetoui
authors.forename: Fawzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aoudjit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1 / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000502:physiology*; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D039222:Integrin alpha1beta1; D015851:Interleukin-7; D053245:RANK Ligand; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human; D007371:Interferon-gamma