Nod/Ripk2 signaling in dendritic cells activates IL-17A-secreting innate lymphoid cells and drives colitis in T-bet-/-.Rag2-/- (TRUC) mice

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Jun 24;111(25):E2559-66. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1408540111. Epub 2014 Jun 9.

Abstract

T-bet(-/-).Rag2(-/-) (TRUC) mice spontaneously develop microbiota-driven, TNF-mediated large bowel inflammation that resembles human ulcerative colitis. We show here that IL-23 and IL-1-dependent secretion of IL-17A by innate lymphoid cells (ILCs; defined as CD45(+)lin(-)Thy1(hi)NKp46(-)) is a second critical pathway in this model. Using an in vitro coculture system of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and freshly isolated FACS-purified ILCs, we demonstrate that IL-23 and IL-1 secreted by DCs in response to microbial stimulation work together to induce IL-17A production by ILCs. TNF is not required for IL-17A secretion by ILCs in vitro but synergizes with IL-17A to induce the expression of neutrophil-attracting chemokines. Upstream, activation of the IL-23/IL-17A axis is regulated by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing (Nod)/receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 2 (Ripk2) signals in DCs. Genetic ablation of the Nod/Ripk2 signaling pathway protects TRUC mice from developing colitis without affecting the colitogenicity of the intestinal microbiota. Our data provide insight into the complex network of interactions between IL-17A-secreting ILCs and other components of the innate immune system in the development of colitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology*
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Chemokines / immunology
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / genetics
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / immunology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-17 / genetics
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-23 / genetics
  • Interleukin-23 / immunology
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Chemokines
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Il17a protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-17
  • Interleukin-23
  • Rag2 protein, mouse
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Ripk2 protein, mouse