Pathological role of interleukin-17 in poly I:C-induced hepatitis

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 19;8(9):e73909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073909. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Immune-mediated responses were the main causes of liver damage during viral hepatitis, and recently viral RNA mimetic Poly I:C was used to induce a NK cell-dominated acute hepatitis. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), the cytokine tightly associated with various autoimmune diseases, was known to play protective or pathological roles in LPS and ConA-induced hepatitis. However, its role in NK cell-mediated acute hepatitis remains unknown. Here we demonstrated that Poly I:C treatment triggered IL-17A production from hepatic γδT cells. Neutralizing IL-17A by monoclonal antibodies reduced Poly I:C-induced intrahepatic inflammatory responses and the liver injury through decreased accumulation, activation and cytolytic activity of NK cells in the liver. Furthermore, Poly I:C didn't trigger IL-17A secretion from γδT cells directly, and Kuppfer cells were demonstrated to be the accessory cell that can secrete IL-23. Finally, our findings demonstrated a pathological role of IL-17A and γδT cells in Poly I:C-induced acute hepatitis, which provides novel insights into viral infection-induced hepatitis and may serve as potential target in clinic immunotherapy against these disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Hepatitis, Animal / chemically induced
  • Hepatitis, Animal / immunology
  • Hepatitis, Animal / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-17 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Kupffer Cells / immunology
  • Kupffer Cells / metabolism
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Depletion
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Poly I-C / adverse effects
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Interleukin-17
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Poly I-C