title: Interleukin-23 is required for development of arthritis in mice vaccinated and challenged with Borrelia species.
abstract: We recently hypothesized that T helper 17 (Th17) cells and their associated cytokines are involved in the development of arthritis following infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Here, we show that interleukin-23 (IL-23), a survival factor for Th17 cells, is required for the induction of arthritis in mice vaccinated with B. burgdorferi strain 297 and challenged with "Borrelia bissettii." When Borrelia-vaccinated and -challenged mice were given antibodies to the p19 subunit of IL-23, they failed to develop the histopathological changes observed in untreated vaccinated and challenged mice. In addition, viable B. bissettii organisms stimulated the secretion of IL-17 from Borrelia-immune lymph node cells during in vitro culture. When anti-IL-23 p19 antibody was included in cultures of B. bissettii organisms and Borrelia-immune lymph node cells, the production of IL-17 was reduced to levels observed in cultures containing immune cells alone. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that Th17 cell-associated cytokines are involved in the development of Borrelia-mediated arthritis. These findings provide insight into previously overlooked immune mechanisms responsible for the development of Lyme arthritis.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 465 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kotloski
authors.forename: Dean T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Nardelli
authors.forename: Sara Heil
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Torrealba
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Callister
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001898:Borrelia / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022123:Lyme Disease Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D053759:Interleukin-23; D022123:Lyme Disease Vaccines