IL-17 promotes p38 MAPK-dependent endothelial activation enhancing neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation.
Neutrophilic inflammation plays an important role in lung tissue destruction occurring in many chronic pulmonary diseases. Neutrophils can be recruited to sites of inflammation via the action of the cytokine IL-17. In this study, we report that IL-17RA and IL-17RC mRNA expression is significantly increased in asthmatic bronchoscopic biopsies and that these receptors are not only expressed on epithelial and inflammatory cells but also on endothelial cells. IL-17 potently stimulates lung microvascular endothelial cells to produce chemoattractants (CXCL8 and derivatives of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway) that selectively drive neutrophil but not lymphocyte chemotaxis. Moreover, IL-17 promotes endothelial activation by inducing the expression of endothelial adhesion markers (E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1) in a p38 MAPK-dependent manner. This increased expression of adhesion molecules stimulates the trans-endothelial migration of neutrophils, as well as the transmigration of HT-29 colon carcinoma cells, suggesting a further role in promoting lung metastasis. Finally, IL-17 increased neutrophil adhesion to the endothelium in vivo as determined by intravital microscopy of mice cremaster muscle. Overall, our results demonstrate that IL-17 is a potent activator of the endothelium in vivo leading to neutrophil infiltration. Therefore, preventing neutrophil recruitment by blocking the action of IL-17 on endothelial cells may prove to be highly beneficial in diseases in which neutrophilic inflammation plays a key role.
Roussel
Lucie
L
Meakins-Christie Laboratories, University Heath Centre Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Houle
François
F
Chan
Carlos
C
Yao
Yu
Y
Bérubé
Julie
J
Olivenstein
Ron
R
Martin
James G
JG
Huot
Jacques
J
Hamid
Qutayba
Q
Ferri
Lorenzo
L
Rousseau
Simon
S
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020381:Interleukin-17; D016209:Interleukin-8; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases