Interleukin-17 induces src/MAPK cascades activation in human renal epithelial cells

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a T cell derived pro-inflammatory cytokine exhibiting multiple biological activities in a variety of cells. In our previous study, we found that IL-17 expressed early on borderline change of renal allograft rejection by Banff classification both in rat renal allograft model and human renal specimens. Renal epithelial cells (RECs) are the important targets in renal allograft rejection. The purpose of this study was to explore the signalling pathways by which human interleukin-17 (hIL-17) contributes to renal allograft rejection by inducing IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 expression in human renal epithelial cells (hRECs). Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis, we report that the early signalling events triggered by the hIL-17 involved tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins and increased the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Tyrosyl phosphorylation of proteins was induced by IL-17 in 1 min and peaked in 5 min. Further, IL-17 induced the phosphorylation of src kinase and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Using a specific src kinase inhibitor, PP2, to treat the hRECs before hIL-17 stimulation, we found that PP2 not only inhibited the phosphorylation of src kinase but also inhibited IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNA expression, in a dose-dependent manner. These findings provide the first evidence that the mechanism of IL-17 signalling involves src/MAPK cascades activation.