Regulation of IL-17A production is distinct from IL-17F in a primary human cell co-culture model of T cell-mediated B cell activation

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058966. Epub 2013 Mar 7.

Abstract

Improper regulation of B cell responses leads to excessive production of antibodies and contributes to the development of autoimmune disease. T helper 17 (Th17) cells also drive the development of autoimmune disease, but the role of B cells in shaping Th17 cell-mediated immune responses, as well as the reciprocal regulation of B cell responses by IL-17 family cytokines, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize the regulation of IL-17A and IL-17F in a model of T cell-dependent B cell activation. Stimulation of primary human B cell and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (BT) co-cultures with α-IgM and a non-mitogenic concentration of superantigens for three days promoted a Th17 cell response as evidenced by increased expression of Th17-related gene transcripts, including Il17f, Il21, Il22, and Il23r, in CD4 T cells, as well as the secretion of IL-17A and IL-17F protein. We tested the ability of 144 pharmacologic modulators representing 91 different targets or pathways to regulate IL-17A and IL-17F production in these stimulated BT co-cultures. IL-17A production was found to be preferentially sensitive to inhibition of the PI3K/mTOR pathway, while prostaglandin EP receptor agonists, including PGE2, increased IL-17A concentrations. In contrast, the production of IL-17F was inhibited by PGE2, but selectively increased by TLR2 and TLR5 agonists. These results indicate that IL-17A regulation is distinct from IL-17F in stimulated BT co-cultures and that this co-culture approach can be used to identify pathway mechanisms and novel agents that selectively inhibit production of IL-17A or IL-17F.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Calcitriol / pharmacology
  • Cell Communication
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Interleukin-17 / genetics
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Phenotype
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Propanols / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4'-((4-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4-yl)propan-2-ol
  • Interleukin-17
  • Piperazines
  • Propanols
  • Calcitriol

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.