Type I IFN Contributes to the Phenotype of Unc93b1(D34A/D34A) Mice by Regulating TLR7 Expression in B Cells and Dendritic Cells
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Fukui, Ryutaro; Kanno, Atsuo; Miyake, Kensuke
Abstract
TLR7 recognizes pathogen-derived and self-derived RNA, and thus a regulatory system for control of the TLR7 response is required to avoid excessive activation. Unc93 homolog B1 (Unc93B1) is a regulator of TLR7 that controls the TLR7 response by transporting TLR7 from the endoplasmic reticulum to endolysosomes. We have previously shown that a D34A mutation in Unc93B1 induces hyperactivation of TLR7, and that Unc93b1(D34A/D34A) mice (D34A mice) have systemic inflammation spontaneously. In this study, we examined the roles of inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-gamma, IL-17A, and type I IFNs to understand the mechanism underlying the phenotype in D34A mice. mRNAs for IFN-gamma and IL-17A in CD4(+) T cells increased, but inflammatory phenotype manifesting as thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly was still observed in Ifng(-/-) or Il17a(-/-) D34A mice. In contrast to T cell derived cytokines, Ifnar1(-/-) D34A mice showed an ameliorated phenotype with lower expression of TLR7 in B cells and conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). The amount of TLR7 decreased in B cells from Ifnar1(-/-) D34A mice, but the percentage of TLR7(+) cells decreased among CD8(alpha)(-) cDCs. In conclusion, type I IFNs maintain expression of TLR7 in B cells and cDCs in different ways; total amount of TLR7 is kept in B cells and TLR7(+) population is retained among cDCs. Our results suggested that these TLR7-expressing cells are activated initially and influence TLR7-dependent systemic inflammation.
Associations Between Circulating Interleukin-17 Levels and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Between Interleukin-17 Gene Polymorphisms and Disease Susceptibility: A Meta-analysis
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Authors: Lee, Young Ho; Song, Gwan Gyu
Abstract
Objective. To systematically investigate the relationship between circulating interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and associations between polymorphisms in IL17 genes and SLE susceptibility. Methods. We performed a meta-analysis of serum/plasma IL-17 levels in patients with SLE and controls and evaluated the associations between the IL17A rs2275913, IL17F rs763780, and IL17F rs2397084 polymorphisms and IL17F copy number variations (CNVs) and risk of SLE. Results. Thirteen studies focusing on 2,096 patients with SLE and 2,587 controls were included. Our meta-analysis revealed that IL-17 levels were significantly higher in the SLE group than the control group (standardized mean difference=1.045, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=0.521 similar to 1.568, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis using sample size showed increased IL-17 levels in samples from large (n>100) but not small (n<90) SLE groups. We found no evidence of associations between SLE and the IL17A rs2275913, IL17F rs763780, and IL17F rs2397084 polymorphisms. However, a significant association was found between SLE and IL17F CNVs in a pooled cohort of affected individuals compared to that in pooled controls (odd ratio=3.663, 95% CI = 2.466 similar to 5.221, p<0.001). Conclusion. This meta-analysis revealed significantly higher circulating IL-17 levels in patients with SLE and showed evidence of associations between IL17F CNVs and SLE.