CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-δ expression by dendritic cells regulates CNS autoimmune inflammatory disease

J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 30;31(48):17612-21. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3449-11.2011.

Abstract

CCAAT enhancer binding protein-delta (C/EBPδ) is a transcription factor that regulates inflammatory processes mediating bystander neuronal injury and CNS autoimmune inflammatory disease. The mechanism of the involvement of C/EBPδ in these processes remains to be determined. Here, we examined the cellular source(s) and mechanisms by which C/EBPδ may be involved in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Mice deficient in C/EBPδ expression exhibited less severe clinical disease than wild-type littermates in response to induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by vaccination with a myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) fragment. This reduction in EAE severity was associated with a significant alteration in the complement of major CNS T-helper (Th) cell subtypes throughout disease, manifest as reduced ratios of Th17 cells to regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Studies in bone marrow chimeric mice indicated that C/EBPδ expression by peripherally derived immune cells mediates C/EBPδ involvement in EAE. Follow up in vitro and in vivo examination of dendritic cell (DC) mediated Th-cell development suggests that C/EBPδ suppresses DC expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), favoring Th17 over Treg development. In vitro and in vivo blockade of IL-10 signaling attenuated the effect of reduced C/EBPδ expression by DCs on Th17:Treg ratios. These findings identify C/EBPδ as an important DC transcription factor in CNS autoimmune inflammatory disease by virtue of its capacity to alter the Th17:Treg balance in an IL-10 dependent fashion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / immunology
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / genetics
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / immunology
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Interleukin-10
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta