Abrogation of Rbpj attenuates experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by inhibiting IL-22-producing CD4+ T cells

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 28;9(2):e89266. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089266. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is an organ-specific T cell-mediated disease induced by immunizing mice with interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP). Autoaggressive CD4(+) T cells are the major pathogenic population for EAU. We investigated the contribution of Notch signaling in T cells to EAU pathogenesis because Notch signaling regulates various aspects of CD4(+) T cell functions. Rbpj is required for Notch signaling, and Rbpj deficiency in T cells inhibited EAU disease severity. The amelioration of EAU in T cell-specific Rbpj-deficient mice correlated with low levels of IL-22 production from CD4(+) T cells, although IRBP-specific CD4(+) T cell proliferation and Th17 differentiation were unaffected. Administration of recombinant IL-22 during the late phase, but not the early phase, of EAU increased EAU clinical scores in T cell-specific Rbpj-deficient mice. Notch inhibition in mice immunized with IRBP with a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) suppressed EAU progression, even when GSI was administered as late as 13 days after IRBP immunization. Our data demonstrate that Rbpj/Notch-mediated IL-22 production in T cells has a key pathological role in the late phase of EAU, and suggest that Notch blockade might be a useful therapeutic approach for treating EAU.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / genetics
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-22
  • Interleukins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Retinitis / genetics
  • Retinitis / metabolism*
  • Retinitis / therapy
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism
  • Uveitis / genetics
  • Uveitis / metabolism*
  • Uveitis / therapy

Substances

  • Eye Proteins
  • Interleukins
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins
  • interstitial retinol-binding protein

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (S) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.