IL-23 signaling regulation of pro-inflammatory T-cell migration uncovered by phosphoproteomics

PLoS Biol. 2020 Mar 23;18(3):e3000646. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000646. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Interleukin 23 (IL-23) triggers pathogenic features in pro-inflammatory, IL-17-secreting T cells (Th17 and Tγδ17) that play a key role in the development of inflammatory diseases. However, the IL-23 signaling cascade remains largely undefined. Here, we used quantitative phosphoproteomics to characterize IL-23 signaling in primary murine Th17 cells. We quantified 6,888 phosphorylation sites in Th17 cells and found 168 phosphorylations regulated upon IL-23 stimulation. IL-23 increased the phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (RLC), an actomyosin contractibility marker, in Th17 and Tγδ17 cells. IL-23-induced RLC phosphorylation required Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) catalytic activity, and further study of the IL-23/ROCK connection revealed an unexpected role of IL-23 in the migration of Tγδ17 and Th17 cells through ROCK activation. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of ROCK reduced Tγδ17 recruitment to inflamed skin upon challenge with inflammatory agent Imiquimod. This work (i) provides new insights into phosphorylation networks that control Th17 cells, (ii) widely expands the current knowledge on IL-23 signaling, and (iii) contributes to the increasing list of immune cells subsets characterized by global phosphoproteomic approaches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement
  • Imiquimod / pharmacology
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 / genetics
  • Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 / metabolism*
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myosin Light Chains / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin / metabolism
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Il23a protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-23 Subunit p19
  • Myosin Light Chains
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • interleukin-23 receptor, mouse
  • Serine
  • Jak2 protein, mouse
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • Imiquimod

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Goverment (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness). M.N.N, C.A-S, G.P-F, I.R.M and J.P are funded by grants SAF2013-43833-R, SAF2016-78180-R and RYC-2012-10252 to M.N.N. R.C-G and D.C are funded by SAF2014-55579-R to Prof. Sánchez-Madrid. Institutional grants from the Fundación Ramón Areces and Banco de Santander to the CBMSO are also acknowledged. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.