Molecular mechanisms of cytokine and chemokine release from eosinophils activated by IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23: implication for Th17 lymphocytes-mediated allergic inflammation

J Immunol. 2008 Apr 15;180(8):5625-35. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.8.5625.

Abstract

IL-17A and IL-17F are members of the IL-17 family that play crucial roles in allergic inflammation. Recent studies reported that IL-17A and IL-17F production from a distinct Th lymphocyte subset, Th17, was specifically induced by IL-23, which was produced by dendritic cells and macrophages in response to microbial stimuli. The IL-23-IL-17 axis might therefore provide a link between infections and allergic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23, alone or in combination, on cytokine and chemokine release from eosinophils and the underlying intracellular mechanisms. Human eosinophils were found to constitutively express receptors for IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23 at the protein level. IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23 could induce the release of chemokines GRO-alpha/CXCL1, IL-8/CXCL8, and MIP-1beta/CCL4 from eosinophils, while IL-17F and IL-23 could also increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and IL-6. Synergistic effects were observed in the combined treatment of IL-17F and IL-23 on the release of proinflammatory cytokines, and the effects were dose-dependently enhanced by IL-23, but not IL-17F. Further investigations showed that IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23 differentially activated the ERK, p38 MAPK, and NF-kappaB pathways. Moreover, inhibition of these pathways using selective inhibitors could significantly abolish the chemokine release induced by IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23 and the synergistic increases on IL-1beta and IL-6 production mediated by combined treatment of IL-17F and IL-23. Taken together, our findings provide insight for the Th17 lymphocyte-mediated activation of eosinophils via differential intracellular signaling cascades in allergic inflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokines / immunology
  • Chemokines / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Eosinophils / immunology*
  • Eosinophils / metabolism
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / immunology
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-23 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-23 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemokines
  • Cytokines
  • IL17F protein, human
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-23
  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-kappa B
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases