IL-17C is required for lethal inflammation during systemic fungal infection

Cell Mol Immunol. 2016 Jul;13(4):474-83. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2015.56. Epub 2015 Jul 13.

Abstract

Within the interleukin-17 (IL-17) family of cytokines, IL-17A is known to be critical in the host defense against fungal infections; however, the function of the other IL-17 family members in anti-fungal immunity remains largely unknown. Here, we show that IL-17C expression was highly induced in kidney epithelial cells after fungal infection. Mice that lacked IL-17C exhibited increased survival and attenuated kidney tissue damage, although they had similar fungal loads. IL-17C deficiency resulted in decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression compared with wild-type control mice. Additionally, IL-17C directly acted on renal epithelial cells in vitro to promote pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Taken together, our data demonstrate that IL-17C is a critical factor that potentiates inflammatory responses and causes host injury during fungal infection.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Candida albicans / physiology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / microbiology*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Kidney / microbiology
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mycoses / immunology*
  • Mycoses / microbiology*
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-17