We read with great interest the article by Brkic and colleagues in a recent issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy [1]. In that study, the authors investigated the distribution of T helper (Th) subsets which produce IL-17A, IL-17 F, IL-21, and IL-22 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in relation to their genetic IFN type I signature. Patients with an IFN type I-positive signature showed increased percentages of IL-17A- and IL-21-producing CCR6+ T cells. From these results, the authors conclude that IFN type I cells co-act with Th17 cytokines in the pathogenesis of SLE. Surprisingly, they excluded CD25+ T cells from their analysis. In a previous study, we showed that Th cells from SLE patients expressing CD25med and CD25high are also able to produce IFN-γ and IL-17A [2]. Therefore, it would be relevant to assess cytokine expression in CD4+CD25+ T cells from IFN type I-positive and IFN type I-negative SLE patients. Furthermore, it should be proven that the genetic signature is solely responsible for the increased IFN production by Th cells. In addition, their finding that CCR6+ T cells are capable of producing IL-21 indirectly confirms our previous observation that IL-17+ T cells are a main source of IL-21 in patients with SLE [3]. Possibly, IL-21 is orchestrating the Th1/Th17 axis.
Finally, we agree that there might be a co-activity between IFN-I- and IL-17-producing cells as described by Brkic and colleagues. However, considering our findings that T cells with a regulatory phenotype are able to produce IFN-γ and IL-17A in patients with SLE, we suggest that primarily the plasticity of T cells is altered in patients with SLE [4].
Abbreviations
- IFN:
-
Interferon
- IL:
-
Interleukin
- SLE:
-
Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Th:
-
T helper.
References
Brkic Z, Corneth OB, van Helden-Meeuwsen CG, Dolhain RJ, Maria NI, Paulissen SM, Davelaar N, van Hamburg JP, van Daele PL, Dalm VA, van Hagen PM, Hazes JM, Versnel MA, Lubberts E: T-helper 17 cell cytokines and interferon type I: partners in crime in systemic lupus erythematosus?. Arthritis Res Ther. 2014, 16: R62-10.1186/ar4499.
Dolff S, Bijl M, Huitema MG, Limburg PC, Kallenberg CG, Abdulahad WH: Disturbed Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg balance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol. 2011, 141: 120-197.
Dolff S, Abdulahad WH, Westra J, Doornbos-van Der Meer B, Limburg PC, Kallenberg CG, Bijl M: Increase in IL-21 producing T-cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Arthritis Res Ther. 2011, 13: R157-10.1186/ar3474.
Koenen HJ, Smeets RL, Vink PM, van Rijssen E, Boots AM, Joosten I: Human CD25highFoxp3pos regulatory T cells differentiate into IL-17-producing cells. Blood. 2008, 112: 2340-2352. 10.1182/blood-2008-01-133967.
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All authors contributed to the interpretation of data. SD drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Dolff, S., Abdulahad, W.H. & Kallenberg, C.G. Response to ‘T-helper 17 cell cytokines and interferon type I: partners in crime in systemic lupus erythematosus?’. Arthritis Res Ther 16, 409 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/ar4576
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/ar4576