Influence of IL-17 on transcriptional profiles of lung and peribronchial lymph nodes dendritic cells in steady and antigen exposed conditions

Abstract

Background: Increased Interleukin 17 (IL-17) levels are observed in inflammatory diseases such as allergic asthma, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, with the exception of its role in attracting neutrophils to inflammatory sites, how IL-17 influences other leukocytes is yet to be fully elucidated. Objective: Our aim in this study is to understanding how IL-17 influences transcriptomic patterns of conventional pulmonary dendritic cells both in steady and antigen exposed conditions Methods: We made a comprehensive comparative transcriptomic analysis of lungs and lung draining lymph nodes derived conventional dendritic cells from wild type as well as IL-17A/F double knockout mice in an experimental model of allergic asthma. Results: We used previously described gene sets in order to carry out a comprehensive comparative analysis between IL-17 sufficient versus IL-17 deficient cDCs transcriptomes. We hereby show that, absence of IL-17 affects various transcriptional programs associated with the ability of DCs to migrate, present antigen as well as co-stimulation of effector cells. We have used bioinformatics tools in order to illustrate affected migration, antigen presentation and co-stimulation pathways. Conclusions: Our transcriptomic analysis shows that IL-17 enhances migratory as well as antigen presenting potential of cDCs. We thus conclude that functional potential of DC could be impaired through targeting IL-17 in order to control inflammation.