IL-25 regulates Th17 function in autoimmune inflammation

MA Kleinschek, AM Owyang, B Joyce-Shaikh… - The Journal of …, 2007 - rupress.org
MA Kleinschek, AM Owyang, B Joyce-Shaikh, CL Langrish, Y Chen, DM Gorman…
The Journal of experimental medicine, 2007rupress.org
Interleukin (IL)-25 is a member of the IL-17 family of cytokines. However, unlike the other
members of this family, IL-25 promotes T helper (Th) 2 responses. We now show that IL-25
also regulates the development of autoimmune inflammation mediated by IL-17–producing
T cells. We have generated IL-25–deficient (il25−/−) mice and found that they are highly
susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The accelerated disease
in the il25−/− mice is associated with an increase of IL-23 in the periphery and a subsequent …
Interleukin (IL)-25 is a member of the IL-17 family of cytokines. However, unlike the other members of this family, IL-25 promotes T helper (Th) 2 responses. We now show that IL-25 also regulates the development of autoimmune inflammation mediated by IL-17–producing T cells. We have generated IL-25–deficient (il25−/−) mice and found that they are highly susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The accelerated disease in the il25−/− mice is associated with an increase of IL-23 in the periphery and a subsequent increase in the number of inflammatory IL-17–, IFNγ-, and TNF-producing T cells that invade the central nervous system. Neutralization of IL-17 but not IFNγ in il25−/− mice prevented EAE, suggesting that IL-17 is a major disease-promoting factor. IL-25 treatment at several time points during a relapse-remitting model or chronic model of EAE completely suppressed disease. IL-25 treatment induced elevated production of IL-13, which is required for suppression of Th17 responses by direct inhibition of IL-23, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression in activated dendritic cells. Thus, IL-25 and IL-17, being members of the same cytokine family, play opposing roles in the pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmunity.
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