Interleukin 17-producing T helper cells and interleukin 17 orchestrate autoreactive germinal center development in autoimmune BXD2 mice.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a cytokine associated with inflammation, autoimmunity and defense against some bacteria. Here we show that IL-17 can promote autoimmune disease through a mechanism distinct from its proinflammatory effects. As compared with wild-type mice, autoimmune BXD2 mice express more IL-17 and show spontaneous development of germinal centers (GCs) before they increase production of pathogenic autoantibodies. We show that blocking IL-17 signaling disrupts CD4+ T cell and B cell interactions required for the formation of GCs and that mice lacking the IL-17 receptor have reduced GC B cell development and humoral responses. Production of IL-17 correlates with upregulated expression of the genes Rgs13 and Rgs16, which encode regulators of G-protein signaling, and results in suppression of the B cell chemotactic response to the chemokine CXCL12. These findings suggest a mechanism by which IL-17 drives autoimmune responses by promoting the formation of spontaneous GCs.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Hsu, H-C; Yang, P; Wang, J; Wu, Q; Myers, R; Chen, J; Yi, J; Guentert, T; Tousson, A; Stanus, AL; Le, T-VL; Lorenz, RG; Xu, H; Kolls, JK; Carter, RH; Chaplin, DD; Williams, RW; Mountz, JD
Published Date
- February 2008
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 9 / 2
Start / End Page
- 166 - 175
PubMed ID
- 18157131
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1529-2916
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1038/ni1552
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States