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TH17 cells contribute to uveitis and scleritis and are expanded by IL-2 and inhibited by IL-27/STAT1

Nature Medicine volume 13, pages 711–718 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

T-helper type 17 cells (TH17) are implicated in rodent models of immune-mediated diseases. Here we report their involvement in human uveitis and scleritis, and validate our findings in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), a model of uveitis. TH17 cells were present in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and were expanded by interleukin (IL)-2 and inhibited by interferon (IFN)-γ. Their numbers increased during active uveitis and scleritis and decreased following treatment. IL-17 was elevated in EAU and upregulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in retinal cells, suggesting a mechanism by which TH17 may contribute to ocular pathology. Furthermore, IL-27 was constitutively expressed in retinal ganglion and photoreceptor cells, was upregulated by IFN-γ and inhibited proliferation of TH17. These findings suggest that TH1 cells may mitigate uveitis by antagonizing the TH17 phenotype through the IFN-γ–mediated induction of IL-27 in target tissue. The finding that IL-2 promotes TH17 expansion provides explanations for the efficacy of IL-2R antibody therapy in uveitis, and suggests that antagonism of TH17 by IFN-γ and/or IL-27 could be used for the treatment of chronic inflammation.

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Figure 1: TH17 cells are present in human PBMC and are expanded by IL-2 during uveitis and scleritis.
Figure 2: Expression of IL-17 in mouse PBMC, lymph node and retina is temporally correlated with progression of EAU.
Figure 3: IL-27 inhibits the proliferation of uveitogenic T cells and the secretion of IL-17 during EAU.
Figure 4: IL-27 expression in PBMC and retina is temporally correlated with the progression of EAU.
Figure 5: IL-27 is constitutively expressed in the retina and is induced in retinal cells by inflammatory cytokines.
Figure 6: IL-27 inhibits IL-17 expression through a STAT1-dependent mechanism.

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Caspi for reading the manuscript; R. Fariss and J.-Y. Tsai for assistance with confocal microscopy; and D. Levy (New York University) for providing the Stat1−/− and Stat3fl/fl mice. This research was funded by Intramural Research Programs of the National Eye Institute and the US National Institutes of Health.

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Author notes

  1. Ahjoku Amadi-Obi and Cheng-Rong Yu: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Immunology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA

    Ahjoku Amadi-Obi, Cheng-Rong Yu, Xuebin Liu, Rashid M Mahdi, Yun Sang Lee & Charles E Egwuagu

  2. Clinical Immunology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA

    Grace Levy Clarke & Robert B Nussenblatt

  3. Experimental Immunology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA

    Igal Gery

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Contributions

A.A.-O. and C.-R.Y. conducted all experiments, prepared the figures and assisted with manuscript writing. X.L. assisted with EAU experiments and FACS analysis, and generated the Stat3−/− mice. R.M.M. performed qRT-PCR analyses. G.L.C. and R.B.N. examined patients, obtained clinical specimens and generated clinical data of the patients. I.G. assisted with EAU induction and performed mouse injections of IL-17–specific antibody for EAU inhibition. Y.S.L. conducted the chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assays. C.E.E. initiated and supervised the project and wrote the manuscript with the editorial assistance of all other authors.

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Correspondence to Charles E Egwuagu.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Fig. 1

IL-2 induces the expansion of TH17 cells. (PDF 821 kb)

Supplementary Fig. 2

IFN-γ induces SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression in PBMC of patients with scleritis. (PDF 161 kb)

Supplementary Table 1

Summary of the clinical information of patients. (PDF 1185 kb)

Supplementary Methods (PDF 77 kb)

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Amadi-Obi, A., Yu, CR., Liu, X. et al. TH17 cells contribute to uveitis and scleritis and are expanded by IL-2 and inhibited by IL-27/STAT1. Nat Med 13, 711–718 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1585

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