BACKGROUND & AIMS: Interleukin (IL)-23 supports a distinct lineage of T cells producing IL-17 (Th17) that can mediate chronic inflammation. This study was performed to define the role of IL-23 and Th17 cells in chronic colitis in mice. METHODS: Colitis was induced by transfer of a cecal bacterial antigen-specific C3H/HeJBir (C3Bir) CD4(+) T-cell line to C3H/HeSnJ SCID mice. Cytokines were measured by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Monoclonal anti-IL-23p19 was administered at the same time as or 4 weeks after pathogenic CD4 T-cell transfer. A histopathology colitis score was assessed in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: The pathogenic C3Bir CD4(+) T-cell line contained more cells producing IL-17 than those producing interferon-gamma and these were distinct subsets; after adoptive transfer to SCID recipients, Th17 cells were predominant in the lamina propria of mice with colitis. Bacteria-reactive CD4(+) Th1 and Th17 lines were generated. The Th17 cells induced marked inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Even at a dose as low as 10(4) cells/mouse, Th17 cells induced more severe disease than Th1 cells did at 10(6) cells/mouse. Monoclonal anti-IL-23p19 prevented and treated active colitis, with down-regulation of a broad array of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the colon. Anti-IL-23p19 induced apoptosis in colitogenic Th17 cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial-reactive CD4(+) Th17 cells are potent effector cells in chronic colitis. Inhibition of IL-23p19 was effective in both prevention and treatment of active colitis. IL-23 is an attractive therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Interleukin (IL)-23 supports a distinct lineage of T cells producing IL-17 (Th17) that can mediate chronic inflammation. This study was performed to define the role of IL-23 and Th17 cells in chronic colitis in mice. METHODS:Colitis was induced by transfer of a cecal bacterial antigen-specific C3H/HeJBir (C3Bir) CD4(+) T-cell line to C3H/HeSnJ SCIDmice. Cytokines were measured by flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Monoclonal anti-IL-23p19 was administered at the same time as or 4 weeks after pathogenic CD4 T-cell transfer. A histopathology colitis score was assessed in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: The pathogenic C3Bir CD4(+) T-cell line contained more cells producing IL-17 than those producing interferon-gamma and these were distinct subsets; after adoptive transfer to SCID recipients, Th17 cells were predominant in the lamina propria of mice with colitis. Bacteria-reactive CD4(+) Th1 and Th17 lines were generated. The Th17 cells induced marked inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Even at a dose as low as 10(4) cells/mouse, Th17 cells induced more severe disease than Th1 cells did at 10(6) cells/mouse. Monoclonal anti-IL-23p19 prevented and treated active colitis, with down-regulation of a broad array of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the colon. Anti-IL-23p19 induced apoptosis in colitogenic Th17 cells in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial-reactive CD4(+) Th17 cells are potent effector cells in chronic colitis. Inhibition of IL-23p19 was effective in both prevention and treatment of active colitis. IL-23 is an attractive therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
Authors: Samuel Huber; Nicola Gagliani; Enric Esplugues; William O'Connor; Francis J Huber; Ashutosh Chaudhry; Masahito Kamanaka; Yasushi Kobayashi; Carmen J Booth; Alexander Y Rudensky; Maria Grazia Roncarolo; Manuela Battaglia; Richard A Flavell Journal: Immunity Date: 2011-04-22 Impact factor: 31.745
Authors: Cynthia L Hickman-Brecks; Jennifer L Racz; Debra M Meyer; Timothy P LaBranche; Paul M Allen Journal: J Autoimmun Date: 2010-11-13 Impact factor: 7.094
Authors: Travis B Murdoch; Wei Xu; Joanne M Stempak; Carol Landers; Stephan R Targan; Jerome I Rotter; Mark S Silverberg Journal: Inflamm Bowel Dis Date: 2012-01-24 Impact factor: 5.325