title: αv Integrin expression by DCs is required for Th17 cell differentiation and development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.
abstract: Th17 cells are a distinct lineage of T helper cells that protect the body from bacterial and fungal infection. However, Th17 cells also contribute to inflammatory and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. Th17 cell generation requires exposure of naive T cells to the cytokine TGF-β in combination with proinflammatory cytokines. Here we show that differentiation of Th17 cells is also critically dependent on αv integrins. In mice, lack of integrin αv in the immune system resulted in loss of Th17 cells in the intestine and lymphoid tissues. It also led to protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Further analysis indicated that αv integrins on DCs activated latent TGF-β during T cell stimulation and thereby promoted differentiation of Th17 cells. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibition of αv integrins using cyclic RGD peptides blocked TGF-β activation and Th17 cell generation in vitro and protected mice from EAE. These data demonstrate that activation of TGF-β by αv-expressing myeloid cells may be a critical step in the generation of Th17 cells and suggest that αv integrins could be therapeutic targets in autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: 1Program of Developmental Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Mridu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Subhankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Païdassi
authors.forename: Tahseen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kissler
authors.forename: Lynda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Hynes
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacy-Hulbert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D039564:Integrin alphaV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta