Role of IL-22- and TNF-α-producing Th22 cells in uveitis patients with Behcet's disease

J Immunol. 2013 Jun 1;190(11):5799-808. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202677. Epub 2013 Apr 29.

Abstract

Behçet's disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder with recurrent episodes of oral ulceration, skin lesions, genital ulceration, and intraocular inflammation (uveitis). The intraocular inflammation is strictly associated with Th effector cells. IL-22 is a member of the IL-10 cytokine family that is involved in inflammatory processes. Recently, Th22 cells were identified as a Th cell population that produces IL-22 and TNF-α and are distinct from Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells. In this study, we established Th22-type T cell clones from ocular samples taken from Behçet's disease patients with active uveitis. These clones produced large amounts of IL-22 and TNF-α but not the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ and the Th17 cytokine IL-17. CD4(+) T cells from the peripheral blood of Behçet's disease patients differentiated into Th22 cells in the presence of IL-6 and TNF-α in vitro. The polarized Th22 cell lines produced large amounts of IL-22, and the polarized Th1 and Th17 cells also produced IL-22. In the presence of anti-TNF-α- and anti-IL-6-blocking Abs, Behçet's disease Th22-type T cells failed to produce IL-22. In addition, infliximab-pretreated Th22 cells and Th22-type ocular T cells produced less IL-22 and TNF-α. Moreover, IL-22-producing T cells were isolated from mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis, an animal model of Behçet's disease, and the intraocular T cells from uveitis models produced large amounts of IL-22 in the presence of retinal Ags. Our results suggest that inflammatory cytokines IL-22 and TNF-α may play a key role in the ocular immune response in Behçet's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Blocking / immunology
  • Antibodies, Blocking / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Behcet Syndrome / complications*
  • Behcet Syndrome / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-22
  • Interleukins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / metabolism*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Uveitis / etiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukins
  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha