Abstract
IntroductionA hallmark of systemic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the increased expression of interferon (IFN) type I inducible genes, so-called IFN type I signature. Recently, T-helper 17 subset (Th17 cells), which produces IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22, has been implicated in SLE. As CCR6 enriches for Th17 cells, we used this approach to investigate whether CCR6+ memory T-helper cells producing IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and/or IL-22 are increased in SLE patients and whether this increase is related to the presence of IFN type I signature.MethodsIn total, 25 SLE patients and 15 healthy controls (HCs) were included. SLE patients were divided into IFN type I signature-positive (IFN+) (n = 16) and negative (IFN-) (n = 9) patients, as assessed by mRNA expression of IFN-inducible genes (IFIGs) in monocytes. Expression of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22 by CD4+CD45RO+CCR6+ T cells (CCR6+ cells) was measured with flow cytometry and compared between IFN+, IFN- patients and HCs.ResultsIncreased percentages of IL-17A and IL-17A/IL-17F double-producing CCR6+ cells were observed in IFN+ patients compared with IFN- patients and HCs. IL-17A and IL-17F expression within CCR6+ cells correlated significantly with IFIG expression. In addition, we found significant correlation between B-cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis family (BAFF)–a factor strongly correlating with IFN type I - and IL-21 producing CCR6+ cells.ConclusionsWe show for the first time higher percentages of IL-17A and IL-17A/IL-17F double-producing CCR6+ memory T-helper cells in IFN+ SLE patients, supporting the hypothesis that IFN type I co-acts with Th17 cytokines in SLE pathogenesis.
Highlights
A hallmark of systemic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the increased expression of interferon (IFN) type I inducible genes, so-called IFN type I signature
We report for the first time a higher percentage of IL-17A and IL-17A/F producing chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6)+ T-memory cells in IFN type I-positive SLE patients
Prevalence of the IFN type I signature in SLE patients In monocytes of 25 SLE patients and 15 healthy control (HC), we assessed the expression levels of 11 IFN-inducible gene (IFIG) previously assessed in monocytes from patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (IFI27, IFI44L, IFIT3, IFITM1, SERPING1, IFIT1, IFIT2, LY6E, IFI44, XAF1, and MXA) [24], and the expression of which was found to be increased in SLE patients [2,3,33,34]
Summary
A hallmark of systemic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the increased expression of interferon (IFN) type I inducible genes, so-called IFN type I signature. About half of the SLE patients exhibit an IFN type I signature or upregulation of IFN type I-induced genes (IFIGs), which have been found to correlate with disease activity and severity [3,4,5]. MS patients that did not respond to IFN type I therapy had higher serum levels of IL-17A before therapy onset [17] These two observations suggest additional effects of the IFN type I and Th17 system co-acting in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases
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