[HTML][HTML] CD1b-autoreactive T cells contribute to hyperlipidemia-induced skin inflammation in mice

S Bagchi, Y He, H Zhang, L Cao… - The Journal of …, 2017 - Am Soc Clin Investig
S Bagchi, Y He, H Zhang, L Cao, I Van Rhijn, DB Moody, JE Gudjonsson, CR Wang
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2017Am Soc Clin Investig
A large proportion of human T cells are autoreactive to group 1 CD1 proteins, which include
CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c. However, the physiological role of the CD1 proteins remains poorly
defined. Here, we have generated a double-transgenic mouse model that expresses human
CD1b and CD1c molecules (hCD1Tg) as well as a CD1b-autoreactive TCR (HJ1Tg) in the
ApoE-deficient background (hCD1Tg HJ1Tg Apoe–/–mice) to determine the role of CD1-
autoreactive T cells in hyperlipidemia-associated inflammatory diseases. We found that …
A large proportion of human T cells are autoreactive to group 1 CD1 proteins, which include CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c. However, the physiological role of the CD1 proteins remains poorly defined. Here, we have generated a double-transgenic mouse model that expresses human CD1b and CD1c molecules (hCD1Tg) as well as a CD1b-autoreactive TCR (HJ1Tg) in the ApoE-deficient background (hCD1Tg HJ1Tg Apoe–/– mice) to determine the role of CD1-autoreactive T cells in hyperlipidemia-associated inflammatory diseases. We found that hCD1Tg HJ1Tg Apoe–/– mice spontaneously developed psoriasiform skin inflammation characterized by T cell and neutrophil infiltration and a Th17-biased cytokine response. Anti–IL-17A treatment ameliorated skin inflammation in vivo. Additionally, phospholipids and cholesterol preferentially accumulated in diseased skin and these autoantigens directly activated CD1b-autoreactive HJ1 T cells. Furthermore, hyperlipidemic serum enhanced IL-6 secretion by CD1b+ DCs and increased IL-17A production by HJ1 T cells. In psoriatic patients, the frequency of CD1b-autoreactive T cells was increased compared with that in healthy controls. Thus, this study has demonstrated the pathogenic role of CD1b-autoreactive T cells under hyperlipidemic conditions in a mouse model of spontaneous skin inflammation. As a large proportion of psoriatic patients are dyslipidemic, this finding is of clinical significance and indicates that self-lipid–reactive T cells might serve as a possible link between hyperlipidemia and psoriasis.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation