Suppressive influences of IFN-alpha on IL-17 expression in human CD4+ T cells

Shunsei Hirohata1, Hideki Shibuya, Satoko Tejima

  • 1Department of Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. shunsei_tenpoint@yahoo.co.jp

We examined the direct effects of IFN-alpha on the development of Th17 with a system using immobilized anti-CD3, which permits activation of CD4+ T cells in the complete absence of accessory cells. Highly purified CD4+ T cells obtained from healthy donors were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 with or without IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha suppressed the production of IL-17 of immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells in a dose-response manner. Accordingly, IFN-alpha inhibited IL-17 mRNA expression in immobilized anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells. IFN-alpha did not affect the production of TGF-beta or IL-6, but inhibited RORC mRNA expression of anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells. These results indicate that IFN-alpha suppresses IL-17 expression and Th17 differentiation through down-regulation of RORC mRNA expression. It is therefore suggested that these effects might play a role in the mode of action of IFN-alpha in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Related Concept Videos

T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...