Increased Th17 and regulatory T cell responses in EBV-induced gene 3-deficient mice lead to marginally enhanced development of autoimmune encephalomyelitis

JQ Liu, Z Liu, X Zhang, Y Shi, F Talebian… - The Journal of …, 2012 - journals.aai.org
JQ Liu, Z Liu, X Zhang, Y Shi, F Talebian, JW Carl, C Yu, FD Shi, CC Whitacre, J Trgovcich…
The Journal of Immunology, 2012journals.aai.org
Abstract EBV-induced gene 3 (EBI3)-encoded protein can form heterodimers with IL-27P28
and IL-12P35 to form IL-27 and IL-35. IL-27 and IL-35 may influence autoimmunity by
inhibiting Th17 differentiation and facilitating the inhibitory roles of Foxp3+ regulatory T
(Treg) cells, respectively. In this study, we have evaluated the development of experimental
autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in EBI3-deficient mice that lack both IL-27 and IL-35.
We found that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide immunization resulted in …
Abstract
EBV-induced gene 3 (EBI3)-encoded protein can form heterodimers with IL-27P28 and IL-12P35 to form IL-27 and IL-35. IL-27 and IL-35 may influence autoimmunity by inhibiting Th17 differentiation and facilitating the inhibitory roles of Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, respectively. In this study, we have evaluated the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in EBI3-deficient mice that lack both IL-27 and IL-35. We found that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide immunization resulted in marginally enhanced EAE development in EBI3-deficient C57BL6 and 2D2 TCR-transgenic mice. EBI3 deficiency resulted in significantly increased Th17 and Th1 responses in the CNS and increased T cell production of IL-2 and IL-17 in the peripheral lymphoid organs. EBI3-deficient and-sufficient 2D2 T cells had equal ability in inducing EAE in Rag1−/− mice; however, more severe disease was induced in EBI3−/− Rag1−/− mice than in Rag1−/− mice by 2D2 T cells. EBI3-deficient mice had increased numbers of CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in peripheral lymphoid organs. More strikingly, EBI3-deficient Treg cells had more potent suppressive functions in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our data support an inhibitory role for EBI3 in Th17, Th1, IL-2, and Treg responses. Although these observations are consistent with the known functions of IL-27, the IL-35 contribution to the suppressive functions of Treg cells is not evident in this model. Increased Treg responses in EBI3−/− mice may explain why the EAE development is only modestly enhanced compared with wild-type mice.
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