Patients with cystic fibrosis have inducible IL-17+IL-22+ memory cells in lung draining lymph nodes.
BACKGROUND
IL-17 is an important cytokine signature of the TH differentiation pathway TH17. This T-cell subset is crucial in mediating autoimmune disease or antimicrobial immunity in animal models, but its presence and role in human disease remain to be completely characterized.


OBJECTIVE
We set out to determine the frequency of TH17 cells in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease in which there is recurrent infection with known pathogens.


METHODS
Explanted lungs from patients undergoing transplantation or organ donors (CF samples=18; non-CF, nonbronchiectatic samples=10) were collected. Hilar nodes and parenchymal lung tissue were processed and examined for TH17 signature by using immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR. T cells were isolated and stimulated with antigens from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus species. Cytokine profiles and staining with flow cytometry were used to assess the reactivity of these cells to antigen stimulation.


RESULTS
We found a strong IL-17 phenotype in patients with CF compared with that seen in control subjects without CF. Within this tissue, we found pathogenic antigen-responsive CD4+IL-17+ cells. There were double-positive IL-17+IL-22+ cells [TH17(22)], and the IL-22+ population had a higher proportion of memory characteristics. Antigen-specific TH17 responses were stronger in the draining lymph nodes compared with those seen in matched parenchymal lungs.


CONCLUSIONS
Inducible proliferation of TH17(22) with memory cell characteristics is seen in the lungs of patients with CF. The function of these individual subpopulations will require further study regarding their development. T cells are likely not the exclusive producers of IL-17 and IL-22, and this will require further characterization.
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, the Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh, and the Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. chany3@upmc.edu
Yvonne R
YR
Chan
Kong
K
Chen
Steven R
SR
Duncan
Kira L
KL
Lathrop
Joseph D
JD
Latoche
Alison J
AJ
Logar
Derek A
DA
Pociask
Brendon J
BJ
Wahlberg
Prabir
P
Ray
Anuradha
A
Ray
Joseph M
JM
Pilewski
Jay K
JK
Kolls
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000737:chemistry; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D000097043:Interleukin-22
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22