Cytokine signals through PI-3 kinase pathway modulate Th17 cytokine production by CCR6+ human memory T cells

Q Wan, L Kozhaya, A ElHed, R Ramesh… - Journal of Experimental …, 2011 - rupress.org
Q Wan, L Kozhaya, A ElHed, R Ramesh, TJ Carlson, IM Djuretic, MS Sundrud, D Unutmaz
Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2011rupress.org
Human memory T cells (TM cells) that produce IL-17 or IL-22 are currently defined as Th17
or Th22 cells, respectively. These T cell lineages are almost exclusively CCR6+ and are
important mediators of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. However, little is known
about the mechanisms controlling IL-17/IL-22 expression in memory Th17/Th22 subsets. We
show that common γ chain (γc)–using cytokines, namely IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15, potently
induce Th17-signature cytokine expression (Il17a, Il17f, Il22, and Il26) in CCR6+, but not …
Human memory T cells (TM cells) that produce IL-17 or IL-22 are currently defined as Th17 or Th22 cells, respectively. These T cell lineages are almost exclusively CCR6+ and are important mediators of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling IL-17/IL-22 expression in memory Th17/Th22 subsets. We show that common γ chain (γc)–using cytokines, namely IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15, potently induce Th17-signature cytokine expression (Il17a, Il17f, Il22, and Il26) in CCR6+, but not CCR6, TM cells, even in CCR6+ cells lacking IL-17 expression ex vivo. Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) or Akt signaling selectively prevents Th17 cytokine induction by γc-cytokines, as does ectopic expression of the transcription factors FOXO1 or KLF2, which are repressed by PI-3K signaling. These results indicate that Th17 cytokines are tuned by PI-3K signaling in CCR6+ TM cells, which may contribute to chronic or autoimmune inflammation. Furthermore, these findings suggest that ex vivo analysis of IL-17 expression may greatly underestimate the frequency and pathogenic potential of the human Th17 compartment.
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