Modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses by tofacitinib (CP-690,550)

Inhibitors of the JAK family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases have demonstrated clinical efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders; however, the precise mechanisms by which JAK inhibition improves inflammatory immune responses remain unclear. In this study, we examined the mode of action of tofacitinib (CP-690,550) on JAK/STAT signaling pathways involved in adaptive and innate immune responses. To determine the extent of inhibition of specific JAK/STAT-dependent pathways, we analyzed cytokine stimulation of mouse and human T cells in vitro. We also investigated the consequences of CP-690,550 treatment on Th cell differentiation of naive murine CD4(+) T cells. CP-690,550 inhibited IL-4-dependent Th2 cell differentiation and interestingly also interfered with Th17 cell differentiation. Expression of IL-23 receptor and the Th17 cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22 were blocked when naive Th cells were stimulated with IL-6 and IL-23. In contrast, IL-17A production was enhanced when Th17 cells were differentiated in the presence of TGF-β. Moreover, CP-690,550 also prevented the activation of STAT1, induction of T-bet, and subsequent generation of Th1 cells. In a model of established arthritis, CP-690,550 rapidly improved disease by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators and suppressing STAT1-dependent genes in joint tissue. Furthermore, efficacy in this disease model correlated with the inhibition of both JAK1 and JAK3 signaling pathways. CP-690,550 also modulated innate responses to LPS in vivo through a mechanism likely involving the inhibition of STAT1 signaling. Thus, CP-690,550 may improve autoimmune diseases and prevent transplant rejection by suppressing the differentiation of pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells as well as innate immune cell signaling.     

IL-1β and TGF-β act antagonistically in induction and differentially in propagation of human proinflammatory precursor CD4+ T cells

Cytokines are critical messengers that control the differentiation of Th cells. To evaluate their impact on the fate of human naive CD4(+) T cells from cord and adult blood, early T cell differentiation was monitored after T cell activation in the presence of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, the analysis of Th cell lineage-specific molecules revealed that IL-1β on its own mediates differentiation of Th cells that secrete a wide range of proinflammatory cytokines and stably express CD69, STAT1, IFN-γ, and IL-17. Notably, our data suggest that IL-1β induces Th17 cells independent of RORC upregulation. In contrast, TGF-β that triggers RORC prevents Th17 cell development. This suppressive function of TGF-β is characterized by inhibition of STAT1, STAT3, and CD69. However, after repeated anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation, we observe that TGF-β provokes an increase in Th17 cells that presumably relies on reactivation of a default pathway by preferential inhibition of IFN-γ. Hence, our data extend the view that the principal cytokines for determining Th cell fate are IL-12 for the Th1 lineage, IL-4 for the Th2 lineage, and TGF-β in conjunction with IL-6 for the Th17 lineage. We propose that IL-1β induces a general proinflammatory Th cell precursor that, in the presence of the lineage-specifying cytokines, further differentiates into one of the specific Th cell subpopulations.     

Low dose CP-690,550 (tofacitinib), a pan-JAK inhibitor, accelerates the onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by potentiating Th17 differentiation

Th17 cells, which have been implicated in autoimmune diseases, require STAT3 signaling activated by IL-6 or IL-23 for their development. Other Th1 and Th2 cytokines such as IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4 strongly suppress Th17 development. Recently, CP-690,550 (tofacitinib), originally developed as a JAK3 inhibitor, has been shown to be effective in phase III clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) models, but the precise mechanism of the effect, especially with respect to Th17 cells, is poorly understood. To our surprise, a low dose CP-690,550 was found to accelerate the onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) at a concentration that suppressed CIA. At an early stage after immunization, more IL-17 production was observed in 15mg/kg body weight CP-690,550-treated mice than in untreated mice. In vitro, CP-690,550 inhibited both Th1 and Th2 development, while promoting Th17 differentiation at 10-50nM concentrations. Enhancement of Th17 by CP-690,550 is probably due to suppression of IL-2 signaling, because anti-IL-2 antibodies cancel the Th17-promoting effect of CP-690,550. CP-690,550 selectively inhibited IFN--induced STAT1, IL-4-induced STAT6 and IL-2-induced STAT5 at 3-30nM, while suppression of IL-6-induced STAT3 phosphorylation required a concentration greater than 100nM. In HEK293T cells, CP-690,550 less effectively suppressed JAK1-mediated STAT3 phosphorylation compared with JAK3. These results suggest that CP-690,550 has a different effects among JAKs and STATs, thereby affecting helper T cell differentiation, and murine autoimmune disease models.     

IL-27 activates human monocytes via STAT1 and suppresses IL-10 production but the inflammatory functions of IL-27 are abrogated by TLRs and p38

IL-27 is a member of the IL-12 family of cytokines that activates the Jak-STAT signaling pathway in a context-dependent manner and has pleiotropic effects on acquired immunity. IL-27 has the capacity to promote early stages of Th1 generation, but recent evidence has suggested a predominant suppressive effect on Th1, Th2, and Th17 differentiation. Although modest suppressive effects of IL-27 on myeloid lineage cells have been observed, there is limited knowledge about the role of IL-27 in the regulation of innate immunity. In this study we report that although in resting murine macrophages IL-27 had minimal if any effects, in resting human monocytes IL-27 had profound proinflammatory functions. IL-27 activated a STAT1-dominant pattern of signaling in human monocytes with the consequent activation of STAT1-dependent inflammatory target genes. IL-27 primed monocytes for augmented responses to TLR stimulation in a STAT1-dependent manner, altered IL-10 signaling, and attenuated IL-10-induced gene expression. Strikingly, IL-27 strongly suppressed TLR-induced IL-10 production in human monocytes. However, the proinflammatory effects of IL-27 on human monocytes were rapidly abrogated by LPS via a p38-mediated mechanism that inhibited IL-27 signaling. Our findings identify a predominantly proinflammatory function for IL-27 in human monocytes and suggest a mechanism by which the activating effects of IL-27 on innate immunity are attenuated as an immune response proceeds and IL-27 transitions to predominantly suppressive effects on acquired immunity.     

Cell proliferation and STAT6 pathways are negatively regulated in T cells by STAT1 and suppressors of cytokine signaling

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins have emerged as important regulators of cytokine signals in lymphocytes. In this study, we have investigated regulation of SOCS expression and their role in Th cell growth and differentiation. We show that SOCS genes are constitutively expressed in naive Th cells, albeit at low levels, and are differentially induced by Ag and Th-polarizing cytokines. Whereas cytokines up-regulate expression of SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3, and cytokine-induced Src homology 2 protein, Ags induce down-regulation of SOCS3 within 48 h of Th cell activation and concomitantly up-regulate SOCS1, SOCS2, and cytokine-induced Src homology 2 protein expression. We further show that STAT1 signals play major roles in inducing SOCS expression in Th cells and that induction of SOCS expression by IL-4, IL-12, or IFN-gamma is compromised in STAT1-deficient primary Th cells. Surprisingly, IL-4 is a potent inducer of STAT1 activation in Th2 but not Th1 cells, and SOCS1 or SOCS3 expression is dramatically reduced in STAT1(-/-) Th2 cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of IL-4-induced STAT1 activation in Th cells, and suggests that its induction of SOCS, may in part, regulate IL-4 functions in Th2 cells. In fact, overexpression of SOCS1 in Th2 cells represses STAT6 activation and profoundly inhibits IL-4-induced proliferation, while depletion of SOCS1 by an anti-sense SOCS1 cDNA construct enhances cell proliferation and induces constitutive activation of STAT6 in Th2 cells. These results are consistent with a model where IL-4 has dual effects on differentiating T cells: it simulates proliferation/differentiation through STAT6 and autoregulates its effects on Th2 growth and effector functions via STAT1-dependent up-regulation of SOCS proteins.     

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.     

STAT1-activating cytokines limit Th17 responses through both T-bet-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Given the association with autoimmune disease, there is great interest in defining cellular factors that limit overactive or misdirected Th17-type inflammation. Using in vivo and in vitro models, we investigated the molecular mechanisms for cytokine-mediated inhibition of Th17 responses, focusing on the role of STAT1 and T-bet in this process. These studies demonstrate that, during systemic inflammation, STAT1- and T-bet-deficient T cells each exhibit a hyper-Th17 phenotype relative to wild-type controls. However, IL-17 production was greater in the absence of T-bet, and when both STAT1 and T-bet were deleted, there was no further increase, with the double-deficient cells instead behaving more like STAT1-deficient counterparts. Similar trends were observed during in vitro priming, with production of Th17-type cytokines greater in T-bet(-/-) T cells than in either STAT1(-/-) or STAT1(-/-) T-bet(-/-) counterparts. The ability of IFN-γ and IL-27 to suppress Th17 responses was reduced in T-bet-deficient cells, and most importantly, ectopic T-bet could suppress signature Th17 gene products, including IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γT, even in STAT1-deficient T cells. Taken together, these studies formally establish that, downstream of IFN-γ, IL-27, and likely all STAT1-activating cytokines, there are both STAT1 and T-bet-dependent pathways capable of suppressing Th17 responses.     

Quantitative proteomics reveals GIMAP family proteins 1 and 4 to be differentially regulated during human T helper cell differentiation

T helper (Th) cells differentiate into functionally distinct effector cell subsets of which Th1 and Th2 cells are best characterized. Besides T cell receptor signaling, IL-12-induced STAT4 and T-bet- and IL-4-induced STAT6 and GATA3 signaling pathways are the major players regulating the Th1 and Th2 differentiation process, respectively. However, there are likely to be other yet unknown factors or pathways involved. In this study we used quantitative proteomics exploiting cleavable ICAT labeling and LC-MS/MS to identify IL-4-regulated proteins from the microsomal fractions of CD4(+) cells extracted from umbilical cord blood. We were able to identify 557 proteins of which 304 were also quantified. This study resulted in the identification of the down-regulation of small GTPases GIMAP1 and GIMAP4 by IL-4 during Th2 differentiation. We also showed that both GIMAP1 and GIMAP4 genes are up-regulated by IL-12 and other Th1 differentiation-inducing cytokines in cells induced to differentiate toward Th1 lineage and down-regulated by IL-4 in cells induced to Th2. Our results indicate that the GIMAP (GTPase of the immunity-associated protein) family of proteins is differentially regulated during Th cell differentiation.