IL-17 promotes murine lupus

J Immunol. 2014 Jul 15;193(2):540-3. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400931. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

The proinflammatory activity of IL-17-producing Th17 cells has been associated with the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. In this article, we provide direct evidence for a role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The induction of SLE by pristane in IL-17-sufficient wild-type mice did not occur in IL-17-deficient mice, which were protected from development of lupus autoantibodies and glomerulonephritis. The protection from SLE in IL-17-deficient mice was associated with a reduced frequency of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative T cells and an expansion of CD4(+) regulatory T cells, and did not depend on Stat-1 signaling. These data affirm the key role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of SLE and strengthen the support for IL-17 blockade in the therapy of SLE.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Interleukin-17 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-17 / genetics
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / chemically induced
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / genetics
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Lupus Nephritis / blood
  • Lupus Nephritis / genetics
  • Lupus Nephritis / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred NZB
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Terpenes
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Interleukin-17
  • Terpenes
  • pristane