Proinflammatory T helper type 17 cells are effective B-cell helpers

M Mitsdoerffer, Y Lee, A Jäger, HJ Kim… - Proceedings of the …, 2010 - National Acad Sciences
M Mitsdoerffer, Y Lee, A Jäger, HJ Kim, T Korn, JK Kolls, H Cantor, E Bettelli, VK Kuchroo
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010National Acad Sciences
T helper type 17 (TH17) cells are highly proinflammatory effector T cells that are
characterized by the production of high amounts of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22.
Furthermore, TH17 cells have been associated with a number of autoimmune diseases.
However, it is not clear whether TH17 cells can also serve as effective helper cells. Here we
show that TH17 cells can function as B-cell helpers in that they not only induce a strong
proliferative response of B cells in vitro but also trigger antibody production with class switch …
T helper type 17 (TH17) cells are highly proinflammatory effector T cells that are characterized by the production of high amounts of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22. Furthermore, TH17 cells have been associated with a number of autoimmune diseases. However, it is not clear whether TH17 cells can also serve as effective helper cells. Here we show that TH17 cells can function as B-cell helpers in that they not only induce a strong proliferative response of B cells in vitro but also trigger antibody production with class switch recombination in vivo. Transfer of TH17 cells into WT or T-cell receptor α–deficient mice, which lack endogenous T cells, induces a pronounced antibody response with preferential isotype class switching to IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3, as well as the formation of germinal centers. Conversely, blockade of IL-17 signaling results in a significant reduction in both number and size of germinal centers. Whereas IL-21 is known to help B cells, IL-17 on its own drives B cells to undergo preferential isotype class switching to IgG2a and IgG3 subtypes. These observations provide insights into the unappreciated role of TH17 cells and their signature cytokines in mediating B-cell differentiation and class switch recombination.
National Acad Sciences