0000000000459935

AUTHOR

Jürgen Scheller

Cutting Edge: Trans-Signaling via the Soluble IL-6R Abrogates the Induction of FoxP3 in Naive CD4+CD25− T Cells

Abstract Chronic inflammatory diseases may develop when regulatory T cells (Tregs) fail to control the balance between tolerance and immunity. Alternatively, activated immune cells might prevent the induction or activation of Tregs in such diseases. In this study, we demonstrate that trans-signaling into T cells via the soluble IL-6 receptor completely abrogates the de novo induction of adaptive Tregs. Mechanistically, IL-6 trans-signaling augmented the expression of the TGF-β signaling inhibitor SMAD7. Consequently, SMAD7 overexpression in T cells using newly created transgenic mice rendered CD4+CD25− T cells resistant to the induction of FoxP3. Finally, IL-6 trans-signaling inhibited Treg…

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Interleukin 27 induces differentiation of neural C6-precursor cells into astrocytes.

Interleukin 6 (IL6)-type cytokines are major regulators of inflammation and thereby contribute to the neuropathology and pathophysiology associated with inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, astrocyte development which is a key process in the development of the CNS is also controlled by cytokines of the IL6-family. Interleukin 27 (IL27) is a recently identified member of this family and has been implicated in the inhibition of TH17 T-cell-responses. Here we show that IL27 and the HHV8 encoded viral IL6 (vIL6) induce C6 glioma cells to differentiate into an astrocyte-like state. Cytokine stimulation led to STAT-factor phosphorylation and consequently to protein expre…

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IL-6 Regulates Neutrophil Microabscess Formation in IL-17A-Driven Psoriasiform Lesions

The lack of a generally accepted animal model for human psoriasis has hindered progress with respect to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. Here we present a model in which transgenic IL-17A expression is targeted to the skin in mice, achievable after crossing our IL-17A(ind) allele to the K14-Cre strain. K14-IL-17A(ind/+) mice invariably develop an overt skin inflammation bearing many hallmark characteristics of human psoriasis including dermal infiltration of effector T cells, formation of neutrophil microabscesses, and hyperkeratosis. IL-17A expression in the skin results in upregulated granulopoiesis and migration of IL-6R-expressing neutrophils into the skin. Neutralization …

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