Expanded double negative T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus produce IL-17 and infiltrate the kidneys.
Double negative (DN) T cells are expanded in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and stimulate autoantibody production as efficiently as CD4(+) T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that DN T cells from patients with SLE produce significant amounts of IL-17 and IFN-gamma, and expand when stimulated in vitro with an anti-CD3 Ab in the presence of accessory cells. Furthermore, IL-17(+) and DN T cells are found in kidney biopsies of patients with lupus nephritis. Our findings establish that DN T cells produce the inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-gamma, and suggest that they contribute to the pathogenesis of kidney damage in patients with SLE.
Crispín
José C
JC
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Oukka
Mohamed
M
Bayliss
George
G
Cohen
Robert A
RA
Van Beek
Christine A
CA
Stillman
Isaac E
IE
Kyttaris
Vasileios C
VC
Juang
Yuang-Taung
YT
Tsokos
George C
GC
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020381:Interleukin-17