JunB is essential for IL-23-dependent pathogenicity of Th17 cells

CD4⁺ T-helper cells producing interleukin-17 (IL-17), known as T-helper 17 (T_H17) cells, comprise heterogeneous subsets that exhibit distinct pathogenicity. Although pathogenic and non-pathogenic T_H17 subsets share a common RORγt-dependent T_H17 transcriptional programme, transcriptional regulatory mechanisms specific to each of these subsets are mostly unknown. Here we show that the AP-1 transcription factor JunB is critical for T_H17 pathogenicity. JunB, which is induced by IL-6, is essential for expression of RORγt and IL-23 receptor by facilitating DNA binding of BATF at the Rorc locus in IL-23-dependent pathogenic T_H17 cells, but not in TGF-β1-dependent non-pathogenic T_H17 cells. Junb-deficient T cells fail to induce T_H17-mediated autoimmune encephalomyelitis and colitis. However, JunB deficiency does not affect the abundance of gut-resident non-pathogenic T_H17 cells. The selective requirement of JunB for IL-23-dependent T_H17 pathogenicity suggests that the JunB-dependent pathway may be a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases.