类风湿关节炎免疫发病机制研究进展

类风湿关节炎(Rheumatoid Arthritis,RA)是以关节滑膜慢性炎症为主的自身免疫性疾病,其病因及发病机制尚未完全明确。本文从T细胞、树突状细胞、肥大细胞等免疫细胞及IL-1家族、结合含γc受体的细胞因子、IL-12家族、IL-17等细胞因子与类风湿关节炎发生发展的关系阐述类风湿关节炎免疫发病机制有关研究进展。     

IL-17家族与哮喘

支气管哮喘(bronchial asthma,简称哮喘)是一种常见的慢性气道炎症性疾病,急性发作可危及生命。研究表明,细胞因子白介素17(interleukin-17,IL-17)家族成员在哮喘的发病过程中发挥着重要的作用,其中IL-17A、IL-17F和IL-17E与哮喘密切相关,是目前的研究热点。现对IL-17家族不同成员与哮喘发病机制的相关研究进展作一综述。     

白介素-17家族细胞因子的研究进展

白介素-17(interleukin-17,IL-17)细胞因子家族含有6个成员,分别是IL-17A(简称IL-17)、IL-17B、IL-17C、IL-17D、IL-17E(也称IL-25)以及IL-17F。IL-17A是该家族中目前研究得最清楚的成员,它可以诱导抗菌肽和炎症性基因的表达,在宿主防御病原微生物如细菌和真菌等的感染中发挥着重要作用,同时也参与多种自身免疫病的炎症性发病病理。IL-17A及其受体的阻断性抗体在牛皮癣和类风湿性关节炎等自身免疫病的临床治疗试验中取得很好的疗效。IL-25诱导Th2相关基因的表达,在过敏反应和宿主抵抗寄生虫感染中发挥重要作用。近年来研究发现,IL-17C也参与宿主抵抗病原菌感染和自身免疫病病理,而IL-17细胞因子家族也参与肿瘤的发生和发展。尽管人们对IL-17A的信号转导机制有了一定的了解,但该家族中其他成员的功能机制还不清楚。因此,深入研究IL-17家族细胞因子的功能与分子机制将为相关疾病,如自身免疫病、感染性疾病、过敏性疾病和肿瘤等的治疗提供重要的理论基础和分子靶标。     

IL-17RE作为IL-17C的功能受体介导宿主肠道黏膜免疫反应

机体的天然免疫系统对于机体免于细菌、病毒或过敏原等外源有害的损伤至关重要。最新的研究表明,在某些条件下,机体天然免疫系统的缺陷甚至与许多自身免疫性疾病、心血管疾病、肥胖以及肿瘤等危害人类健康的慢性疾病的发生发展息息相关。因此,研究清楚人类天然免疫系统的内在运作机理对于认识和治疗各类疾病有着重要的意义。白介素17（interleukin-17,IL-17）家族细胞因子是一类新近被发现的细胞因子类群,越来越多的研究发现该家族成员与天然免疫系统介导的各类反应有着密切的联系。IL-17A（也称IL-17）作为该家族中研究最为深入的成员,被认为参与了多种先天免疫反应。近年来,该家族中一些研究得并不深入的成员也越来越受到人们的关注,这些成员所介导的重要生理和病理功能也正慢慢被揭开。对于该家族细胞因子功能的研究已成为国际免疫学的研究热点。基于此,上海生命科学研究院健康科学研究所的钱友存研究组首次发现该家族中的一个新成员IL-17C的功能受体IL-17RE,并深入阐明了IL-17C-IL-17RE这条信号通路在宿主抵抗肠道病原菌入侵的先天免疫反应中的重要功能和分子机制。这项研究为认识自身的天然免疫系统提供了新的视角,并为感染性疾病的防治提供了重要的理论依据。     

γδT17细胞活化机制的研究进展

IL-17是一种重要的促炎细胞因子，在炎症性疾病和自身免疫性疾病中发挥重要作用。研究发现，除Th17细胞外，γδT17细胞也是IL-17的重要来源。γδT17细胞参与多种免疫应答过程，与感染性疾病、自身免疫性疾病和肿瘤等疾病的发生发展密切相关，本文综述γδT17细胞活化机制的研究进展，探明γδT17细胞的分化和活化机制将为上述疾病的治疗提供新思路。     

白介素-33在疾病中的作用

白介素-33(IL-33)是近年来新发现的IL-1家族的新成员,通过结合其受体ST2诱导Th2型细胞因子的产生。IL-33既可以调节Th2型免疫反应、刺激肥大细胞产生前炎性因子,又可以作为核因子调控基因转录。IL-33在血管性疾病、变态反应性疾病、自身免疫性疾病和炎症性疾病中均发挥重要作用。对IL-33功能及机制的研究将有助于进一步了解这些疾病的致病机制,为疾病治疗提供新的策略。     

细胞因子与类风湿关节炎的研究进展

类风湿关节炎(RA)是一种慢性、多系统的以关节的炎症损害为主要特点的自身免疫性疾病。其发病过程与多种细胞因子有关,包括TNF-α、IL-1、MMPS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-18等,这些细胞因子在RA的发病进程中起了很重要的作用,可作为治疗RA的新靶点。     

IL-37在哮喘及炎症性疾病中的生物学作用及其潜在机制

哮喘(asthma)是严重威胁公众健康的常见疾病,以慢性炎症和气道重塑为其病理特征。白细胞介素-37(interleukin-37, IL-37)曾被称为IL-1家族成员7(IL-1 family member 7, IL-1F7),共有5种不同的亚型,为IL-37a～e,其中IL-37b是最大的剪切变异体。研究发现,IL-37b是免疫应答和炎症的天然抑制剂,细胞内非分泌型和分泌型IL-37b均有较强的抗炎作用,可通过抑制靶细胞内炎性信号通路,抑制炎症因子的表达,发挥抑制炎症反应的功能。IL-37在哮喘、过敏性鼻炎、类风湿性关节炎、炎症性肠病等多种炎症性疾病的发生、发展过程中具有重要作用,并可能是一种新的潜在治疗炎症性疾病的靶点。现就IL-37的生物学功能及国内外IL-37在哮喘及其他炎症性疾病中的研究进展作一概述,以期为IL-37作为一种新的治疗哮喘等炎症性疾病的方法提供理论依据。     

蛋白酶3及其与疾病的关系研究进展

蛋白酶3(proteinase 3,PR3)是中性粒细胞分泌的主要丝氨酸蛋白酶之一,其生物学功能广泛,不仅能降解多种组织蛋白,还可通过加工细胞因子、受体等调控炎症反应,与慢性炎症性疾病如血管炎性肉芽肿病、慢性阻塞性肺疾病、肺囊肿性纤维症的发生发展密切相关,可能作为疾病防治靶点.本文主要综述了PR3的生物学功能及其在疾病中的可能作用机制,期望为相关疾病的防治提供新的思路.     

IL-13在支气管哮喘中的作用机制及治疗靶位

支气管哮喘是由多种细胞包括气道炎性细胞、结构细胞和多种细胞组分参与的气道慢性炎症性疾病。其发病原因复杂,以反复发作的呼吸困难、气道的高反应性和慢性炎症为特点。细胞因子作为免疫活性细胞中的效应分子,具有的免疫调节作用,诸多学者认为白介素-13(interleukin-13,IL-13)在哮喘发病中扮演重要角色,其拮抗剂有望成为哮喘治疗的新方法,本文欲将IL-13的生物学功能、IL-13在支气管哮喘中的作用机制及干预治疗靶位加以综述,为制定哮喘防治策略、开发新治疗技术提供新思路。     

Signaling of interleukin-17 family cytokines in immunity and inflammation

IL-17 cytokine family, though still young since discovery, has recently emerged as critical players in immunity and inflammatory diseases. The prototype cytokine, IL-17A, plays essential roles in promoting inflammation and host defense. IL-17RA, a member of the IL-17 receptor family, forms a complex with another member, IL-17RC, to mediate effective signaling for IL-17A as well as IL-17F, which is most similar to IL-17A, via Act1 and TRAF6 factors. On the other hand, IL-17RA appears to interact with IL-17RB to regulate signaling by another cytokine IL-25. IL-25, the most distant from IL-17A in the IL-17 family, is involved in allergic disease and defense against helminthic parasites. In this review, we discuss recent advancements on signaling mechanisms and biological functions of IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-25, which will shed light on the remaining IL-17 family cytokines and help understand and treat inflammatory diseases.     

Structure and function of interleukin-17 family cytokines

The recently identified interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokines family, which comprises six members in mammals (IL-17A-F), plays essential roles in the host immunity against infectious diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases. The three-dimensional structures containing IL-17A or IL-17F have become available and revealed the unique structural features of IL-17s as well as their receptors. Molecular modeling in this review shows that IL-17s may adopt a “cysteine knot” fold commonly seen in nerve growth factor (NGF) and other neurotrophins. Further modeling analysis unmasks a signature interaction feature of the IL-17F/IL-17RA complex, where a small loop of IL-17RA slots into the deep groove of the interface of IL-17F homodimer. This is quite different from the interaction between the best known four-helix cytokines and their cognate receptors. On the other hand, structure of IL-17A and its monoclonal antibody (CAT-2200) shows that, albeit that the antigenic epitope of IL-17A resides outside of the IL-17A homodimer interface, its physical proximity to the receptor binding groove may explain that antibody blockage would be achieved by interfering with the ligand-receptor interaction. This review is to summarize the advance in understanding the structure and function of IL-17 family cytokines, focusing mainly on IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-17E, in the hope of gaining better knowledge of immunotherapeutic strategies against various inflammatory diseases.     

Synergy of IL-23 and Th17 Cytokines: New Light on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, involve an interplay between host genetics and environmental factors including intestinal microbiota. Animal models of IBD have indicated that chronic inflammation can result from over-production of inflammatory responses or deficiencies in key negative regulatory pathways. Recent research advances in both T-helper 1 (Th1) and T-helper 17 (Th17) effect responses have offered new insights on the induction and regulation of mucosal immunity which is linked to the development of IBD. Th17 cytokines, such as IL-17 and IL-22, in combination with IL-23, play crucial roles in intestinal protection and homeostasis. IL-23 is expressed in gut mucosa and tends to orchestrate T-cell-independent pathways of intestinal inflammation as well as T cell dependent pathways mediated by cytokines produced by Th1 and Th17 cells. Th17 cells, generally found to be proinflammatory, have specific functions in host defense against infection by recruiting neutrophils and macrophages to infected tissues. Here we will review emerging data on those cytokines and their related regulatory networks that appear to govern the complex development of chronic intestinal inflammation; we will focus on how IL-23 and Th17 cytokines act coordinately to influence the balance between tolerance and immunity in the intestine.     

Involvement of tyrosine kinase-2 in both the IL-12/Th1 and IL-23/Th17 axes in vivo

Tyrosine kinase-2 (Tyk2), a member of the Jak family of kinases, mediates the signals triggered by various cytokines, including type I IFNs, IL-12, and IL-23. In the current study, we investigated the in vivo involvement of Tyk2 in several IL-12/Th1- and IL-23/Th17-mediated models of experimental diseases, including methylated BSA injection-induced footpad thickness, imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation, and dextran sulfate sodium- or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis. In these disease models, Tyk2 deficiency influenced the phenotypes in immunity and/or inflammation. Our findings demonstrate a somewhat broader contribution of Tyk2 to immune systems than previously expected and suggest that Tyk2 may represent an important candidate for drug development by targeting both the IL-12/Th1 and IL-23/Th17 axes.     

Cutting edge: interleukin 17 signals through a heteromeric receptor complex

IL-17 is an inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by a unique lineage of CD4 T cells that plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases. IL-17RA is a ubiquitously expressed receptor that is essential for IL-17 biologic activity. Despite widespread receptor expression, the activity of IL-17 is most classically defined by its ability to induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other mediators by stromal cells. The lack of IL-17 responsiveness in mouse stromal cells genetically deficient in IL-17RA is poorly complemented by human IL-17RA, suggesting the presence of an obligate ancillary component whose activity is species specific. This component is IL-17RC, a distinct member of the IL-17R family. Thus, the biologic activity of IL-17 is dependent on a complex composed of IL-17RA and IL-17RC, suggesting a new paradigm for understanding the interactions between the expanded family of IL-17 ligands and their receptors.     

The role of IL-15 in gastrointestinal diseases: A bridge between innate and adaptive immune response

IL-15 is a member of the IL-2 family of cytokines whose signaling pathways are a bridge between innate and adaptive immune response. IL-15 is part of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and functions to modulate gut homeostasis. IL-15 has pivotal roles in the control of development, proliferation and survival of both innate and adaptive immune cells.IL-15 becomes up-regulated in the inflamed tissue of intestinal inflammatory disease, such as IBD, Celiac Disease and related complications. Indeed, several studies have reported that IL-15 may participate to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Furthermore, although IL-15 seems to be responsible for inflammation and autoimmunity, it also may increase the immune response against cancer. For these reasons, we decided to study the intestinal mucosa as an ‘immunological niche’, in which immune response, inflammation and local homeostasis are modulated.Understanding the role of the IL-15/IL-15R system will provide a scientific basis for the development of new approaches that use IL-15 for immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Indeed, a better understanding of the complexity of the mucosal immune system will contribute to the general understanding of immuno-pathology, which could lead to new therapeutical tools for widespread immuno-mediated diseases.     

IL-17 family member cytokines: regulation and function in innate immunity

Recently, the IL-17 family member cytokines have become prominent subjects of investigation. IL-17 (IL-17A) is the best-described member of this family where its production has been mainly attributed to a specialized T helper subset of the adaptive immune response termed Th17. However, recent research on this and other Th17 cytokines has revealed new sources and functions of IL-17 family members in the innate immune response. This review will highlight recent advances in the field of IL-17 family member cytokines and will predominantly focus on the innate regulation and function of IL-17, IL-17F, and IL-25.     

Interleukin-17 contributes to cardiovascular diseases

Interleukin (IL)-17 (also known as IL-17A), as the signature cytokine of the newly described T helper 17 (Th17) cell population, is the founding member of a new subclass of cytokines that have highly proinflammatory properties. Recently there is accumulating evidence that stipulates the involvement of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases via amplifying the inflammation induced by other cytokines in synergistic interactions. The present review provides a summary of the potential roles of IL-17 in the context derived from both animal models and clinical settings in cardiovascular diseases, and perspectives for IL-17-targeted cytokine therapy.     

Novel IL27p28/IL12p40 Cytokine Suppressed Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by Inhibiting Autoreactive Th1/Th17 Cells and Promoting Expansion of Regulatory T Cells

IL-12 family cytokines are important in host immunity. Whereas some members (IL-12, IL-23) play crucial roles in pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmune diseases by inducing the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes, others (IL-27 and IL-35) suppress inflammatory responses and limit tissue injury induced by these T cell subsets. In this study, we have genetically engineered a novel IL27p28/IL12p40 heterodimeric cytokine (p28/p40) that antagonizes signaling downstream of the gp130 receptor. We investigated whether p28/p40 can be used to ameliorate uveitis, a CNS inflammatory disease. Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is the mouse model of human uveitis and is mediated by Th1 and Th17 cells. We show here that p28/p40 suppressed EAU by inhibiting the differentiation and inflammatory responses of Th1 and Th17 cells while promoting expansion of IL-10⁺- and Foxp3⁺-expressing regulatory T cells. Lymph node cells from mice treated with p28/p40 blocked adoptive transfer of EAU to naïve syngeneic mice by immunopathogenic T cells and suppressive effects of p28/p40 derived in part from antagonizing STAT1 and STAT3 pathways induced by IL-27 and IL-6. Interestingly, IL27p28 also suppressed EAU, but to a lesser extent than p28/p40. The inhibition of uveitogenic lymphocyte proliferation and suppression of EAU by p28/p40 and IL27p28 establish efficacy of single chain and heterodimeric IL-12 family cytokines in treatment of a CNS autoimmune disease. Creation of the biologically active p28/p40 heterodimeric cytokine represents an important proof-of-concept experiment, suggesting that cytokines comprising unique IL-12 α- and β-subunit pairing may exist in nature and may constitute a new class of therapeutic cytokines.     

Impact of obesity on IL-12 family gene expression in insulin responsive tissues

Mounting evidence has established a role for chronic inflammation in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance, as genetic ablation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines elevated in obesity improves insulin signaling in vitro and in vivo. Recent evidence further highlights interleukin (IL)-12 family cytokines as prospective inflammatory mediators linking obesity to insulin resistance. In this study, we present empirical evidence demonstrating that IL-12 family related genes are expressed and regulated in insulin-responsive tissues under conditions of obesity. First, we report that respective mRNAs for each of the known members of this cytokine family are expressed within detectable ranges in WAT, skeletal muscle, liver and heart. Second, we show that these cytokines and their cognate receptors are divergently regulated with genetic obesity in a tissue-specific manner. Third, we demonstrate that select IL-12 family cytokines are regulated in WAT in a manner that is dependent on the developmental stage of obesity as well as the inflammatory progression associated with obesity. Fourth, we report that respective mRNAs for IL-12 cytokines and receptors are also expressed and divergently regulated in cultured adipocytes under conditions of inflammatory stress. To our knowledge, this report is the first study to systemically evaluated mRNA expression of all IL-12 family cytokines and receptors in any tissue under conditions of obesity highlighting select family members as potential mediators linking excess nutrient intake to metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease.