IL-6 blockade preferentially inhibits Th17 differentiation in collagen-induced arthritis
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
Hiroto Yoshida1, Misato Hashizume, Masahiko Mihara
1Product Research Department, Fuji-Gotemba Research Laboratories, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-135, Komakado, Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-8513, Japan.
We examined the time course of cytokine production by CD4 T cells from mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), and we determined the influence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade on cytokine production. CD4 T cells purified from spleen were cultured with both collagen and anti-CD28 antibody for 48 h and the production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-4, and IL-17 by the cells, secreted into the supernatants, was measured at various time intervals. The production of all these cytokines started 7 days after the first immunization. A marked increase in IFN-γ production was observed after the second immunization, but IL-4 and IL-17 production was not affected by a second immunization. A single injection of anti-mouse IL-6 receptor antibody (MR16-1) on the day of the first immunization suppressed the onset of arthritis. IL-17 production by CD4 T cells from MR16-1-treated mice was significantly lower than that from the control mice. On the other hand, treatment with MR16-1 showed only a tendency to suppress the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ. Injection of MR16-1 on day 21 did not suppress the onset of arthritis. We examined the direct influence of MR16-1 on cytokine production by differentiated CD4 T cells from arthritic mice. Production of IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-17 was not affected by MR16-1. In conclusion, IL-6 inhibition preferentially suppresses the induction of Th17 cells and does not seem to impact on cytokine production of already differentiated Th17 cells.
We examined the time course of cytokine production by CD4 T cells from mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), and we determined the influence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade on cytokine production. CD4 T cells purified from spleen were cultured with both collagen and anti-CD28 antibody for 48 h and the production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-4, and IL-17 by the cells, secreted into the supernatants, was measured at various time intervals. The production of all these cytokines started 7 days after the first immunization. A marked increase in IFN-γ production was observed after the second immunization, but IL-4 and IL-17 production was not affected by a second immunization. A single injection of anti-mouse IL-6 receptor antibody (MR16-1) on the day of the first immunization suppressed the onset of arthritis. IL-17 production by CD4 T cells from MR16-1-treated mice was significantly lower than that from the control mice. On the other hand, treatment with MR16-1 showed only a tendency to suppress the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ. Injection of MR16-1 on day 21 did not suppress the onset of arthritis. We examined the direct influence of MR16-1 on cytokine production by differentiated CD4 T cells from arthritic mice. Production of IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-17 was not affected by MR16-1. In conclusion, IL-6 inhibition preferentially suppresses the induction of Th17 cells and does not seem to impact on cytokine production of already differentiated Th17 cells.
Related Concept Videos
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF

