TY - JOUR
T1 - Interleukin-21 signaling in B cells, but not in T cells, is indispensable for the development of collagen-induced arthritis in mice
AU - Sakuraba, Koji
AU - Oyamada, Akiko
AU - Fujimura, Kenjiro
AU - Spolski, Rosanne
AU - Iwamoto, Yukihide
AU - Leonard, Warren J.
AU - Yoshikai, Yasunobu
AU - Yamada, Hisakata
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Author(s).
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/8/17
Y1 - 2016/8/17
N2 - Background: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a T-cell-derived cytokine whose receptor is expressed on a variety of cells and therefore might have pleiotropic roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we investigated the involvement of IL-21 signaling in the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an animal model of RA, using IL-21 receptor knockout (Il21r KO) mice. Methods: Il21r KO mice or wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen (CII) emulsified in complete Freund adjuvant on day 0 and were given a boost injection on day 21. The production of anti-CII antibody, development of T-cell and B-cell subsets, and T-cell responses to CII were analyzed. CIA was induced in Rag2 KO mice to which combinations of WT or Il21r KO CD4 T cells and WT or Il21r KO B cells had been transferred, in order to examine the role of IL-21 signaling in each cell subset. Results: Il21r KO mice were resistant to the development of CIA. CII-specific IgG but not IgM production was impaired in Il21r KO mice. This is consistent with a reduction of germinal center B cells in the draining lymph nodes. In contrast, CII-specific Th1 and Th17 responses were unaffected in Il21r KO mice. There was also no difference in the number of CII-specific follicular helper T cells between WT and Il21r KO mice. By analyzing the development of CIA in T-cell and B-cell mixed transfer experiments, we confirmed that IL-21 receptor expression on B cells, but not on T cells, was essential for the development of CIA. Conclusion: IL-21 signaling in B cells, but not in T cells, plays essential roles in the production of pathogenic autoantibodies that induce CIA development.
AB - Background: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a T-cell-derived cytokine whose receptor is expressed on a variety of cells and therefore might have pleiotropic roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we investigated the involvement of IL-21 signaling in the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an animal model of RA, using IL-21 receptor knockout (Il21r KO) mice. Methods: Il21r KO mice or wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen (CII) emulsified in complete Freund adjuvant on day 0 and were given a boost injection on day 21. The production of anti-CII antibody, development of T-cell and B-cell subsets, and T-cell responses to CII were analyzed. CIA was induced in Rag2 KO mice to which combinations of WT or Il21r KO CD4 T cells and WT or Il21r KO B cells had been transferred, in order to examine the role of IL-21 signaling in each cell subset. Results: Il21r KO mice were resistant to the development of CIA. CII-specific IgG but not IgM production was impaired in Il21r KO mice. This is consistent with a reduction of germinal center B cells in the draining lymph nodes. In contrast, CII-specific Th1 and Th17 responses were unaffected in Il21r KO mice. There was also no difference in the number of CII-specific follicular helper T cells between WT and Il21r KO mice. By analyzing the development of CIA in T-cell and B-cell mixed transfer experiments, we confirmed that IL-21 receptor expression on B cells, but not on T cells, was essential for the development of CIA. Conclusion: IL-21 signaling in B cells, but not in T cells, plays essential roles in the production of pathogenic autoantibodies that induce CIA development.
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U2 - 10.1186/s13075-016-1086-y
DO - 10.1186/s13075-016-1086-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 27535236
AN - SCOPUS:84982217623
VL - 18
JO - Arthritis Research and Therapy
JF - Arthritis Research and Therapy
SN - 1478-6354
IS - 1
M1 - 188
ER -