Murine NKT cells produce Th17 cytokine interleukin-22.
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are known to produce Th17 cytokine IL-17 in addition to Th1/2 cytokines. In this study, the ability of NKT cells to produce IL-22, another Th17 cytokine, was examined in mice. When murine spleen cells were stimulated with alpha-galactosyl ceramide, a ligand for NKT cells, not only Th1/2 cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-4) but Th17 cytokines (IL-17, IL-22) were produced. NKT cells isolated from splenocytes released IL-17 and IL-22 following CD3, CD3/IL-2 or CD3/CD28 stimulation, in which CD3/CD28 costimulation was most effective. Production of IL-17 and IL-22 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from splenocytes was little, if any, even after CD3/CD28 costimulation. Treatment with IL-6/TGF-beta decreased CD3/CD28-stimulated production of IL-22, but not that of IL-17, in NKT cells. These findings show for the first time that NKT cells are a cell source of IL-22, and that expression of two Th17 cytokines might be regulated in NKT cells by different mechanisms.
Goto
Megumi
M
Biomedical Research Laboratories, Asubio Pharma Co., Limited, 1-1-1 Wakayamadai, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka 618-8503, Japan.
Murakawa
Masao
M
Kadoshima-Yamaoka
Kumiko
K
Tanaka
Yoshitaka
Y
Nagahira
Kazuhiro
K
Fukuda
Yoshiaki
Y
Nishimura
Takashi
T
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D000097043:Interleukin-22
D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000097043:Interleukin-22