TNFα Promotes Th17 Cell Differentiation through IL-6 and IL-1β Produced by Monocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis. (10th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Yingxia; Sun, Lei; Jiang, Ting; Zhang, Dongqing; He, Dongyi; Nie, Hong
• Other Names: Yang Xiao-Feng Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of immunology research. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-11-10
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.07905
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/385352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-8861

Abstract

Abstract : TNF α plays an important role in autoimmune pathogenesis and is the main therapeutic target of rheumatoid arthritis. However, its underlying mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, we described that Th17 cells were accumulated in synovial fluid, which was attributable to TNF α aberrantly produced in rheumatoid synovium. Interestingly, TNF α cannot induce IL-17 production of CD4 + T cells directly, but through the monocytes high levels of IL-1 β and IL-6 in a TNFRI and TNFRII dependent manner from the active RA patients are produced. TNF α was shown to enhance the phosphorylation level of STAT3 and the expression level of transcription factor RORC of CD4 + T cells when cultured with CD14 + monocytes. Treatment with an approved TNF α blocking antibody showed marked reduction in the levels of IL-6, IL-1 β, and IL-17 and the expression level of STAT3 phosphorylation in relation to Th17 cell differentiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study provides new evidence supporting the critical role of TNF α in the pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis.