FcγRIII engagement provides activating signals to NKT cells in antibody-induced joint inflammation

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Abstract

NKT cells promote antibody-induced arthritis, but the mechanism by which NKT cells are activated in this model remains unclear. It has been proposed that Fcγ receptor (FcγR) contributes to NKT cell activation in antibody-induced arthritis. To address this issue, we explored the functions of FcγR on NKT cells in antibody-induced arthritis. RT-PCR and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that NKT cells constitutively express surface FcγRIII but not FcγRI, -II, or -IV. FcγRIII engagement by aggregated IgG on NKT cells enhanced CD25 and CD69 expression, whereas FcγR–/– mouse NKT cells did not enhance activation. FcγRIII engagement on NKT cells enhanced the production of IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ, whereas FcγR-deficient NKT cells did not alter the production of these cytokines after aggregated IgG treatment. However, FcγR-deficient NKT cells were functionally intact in terms of TCR-induced activation. Moreover, adoptive transfer of FcγR-deficient NKT cells could not restore inflammation or TGF-β production in the joint tissues of CD1d–/– mice, whereas adoptive transfer of wild-type NKT cells induced arthritis and reduced TGF-β production in joint tissues. We conclude that FcγRIII engagement by IgG in joint tissues provides activating signals to NKT cells in antibody-induced arthritis.

Authors

Hye Young Kim, Sanghee Kim, Doo Hyun Chung